In 2015, the controversial law was introduced that makes it possible for Russia to ban foreign organizations that are alleged to pose a threat to national security, such as RSF.
Freedom of the press is severely restricted in Russia and few independent media exist, especially since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 when censorship was further tightened.
As recently as July, a female journalist and former supporter of opposition politician Aleksey Navalny - who died mysteriously in captivity last year - was imprisoned. RSF has called the imprisonment of the woman "a symbol of the Kremlin's suppression of independent voices".
France-based RSF works for freedom of the press by regularly pointing out and condemning violations of freedom of expression and helping persecuted journalists.
