Russia’s Rassvet has paused plans for new regional branch meetings, while its Amur branch says it will close following the party’s foreign-agent listing, The Moscow Times reported.
The outlet reported that Russia’s Justice Ministry placed Rassvet, an unregistered opposition party, on its register Friday alongside another unregistered anti-Kremlin party. Founder Yekaterina Duntsova said the party’s central council decided over the weekend to pause local organizing as it prepares to challenge the designation in court.
Rassvet’s Amur region branch announced Sunday that it would close. The branch said legal restrictions prevent it from holding meetings or continuing its work in its existing form.
Organizations on the register must include a lengthy disclaimer in public statements, including social media posts, The Moscow Times reported. Rassvet contests the Ministry’s allegation that it received foreign funding and says the authorities are restricting opposition activity.
Duntsova said the party will poll registered members this week on whether to continue pursuing registration, operate as an association under the designation or end the organization. The poll follows the council’s decision to suspend plans for inaugural meetings of new regional branches.
Duntsova founded Rassvet in 2024, the year she was barred from running against President Vladimir Putin in that year’s presidential election.
