RUSSIAN prosecutors Tuesday designated the National Endowment for Democracy, a Washington-based nonprofit group funded by the U.S. Congress, as “undesirable” — making it the first foreign NGO to be banned in Russia under a controversial new law.

    The move is part of what critics say is a Kremlin drive against civil society, fuelled by growing anti-Western rhetoric over the Ukraine crisis.

    “Taking into account the overall aim of the endowment’s work, prosecutors came to the conclusion that it presents a threat to the constitutional order of Russia, its defense capabilities and state security,” the prosecutors said in a statement.

    They accused the American non-profit organization of using local NGOs to undermine elections and organize political rallies in the country.

    “The National Endowment for Democracy participated in work to declare the results of election campaigns illegitimate, to organize political demonstrations aimed at influencing decisions taken by state institutions and to discredit service in the Russian armed forces,” the statement said.

    The decision — which now needs to be rubber-stamped by the justice ministry — will see the endowment barred from opening offices in Russia or funding any groups or individuals in the country.

    Prosecutors said that in 2013 and 2014 the foundation gave funding worth around US$5.2 million to local organizations.

    The move comes as Russia and the West are locked in their worst standoff since the end of the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine.

    (SD-Agencies)