On Monday, the Russian Supreme Court took a significant step in its campaign against dissent by designating the Russian Anti-War Committee as a terrorist organization. This decision marks a new level of aggression against civic groups that oppose the military invasion of Ukraine. The Anti-War Committee, which was established in early 2022 and is comprised of notable figures such as former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky and chess champion Garry Kasparov, aims to provide support for Russians opposing the war, facilitating solidarity and mutual assistance among anti-war activists.

The Supreme Court's ruling points to accusations that the Anti-War Committee promotes and justifies terrorism, a claim that illustrates the Russian Government's crackdown on organization and expression contrary to its military objectives. The Court specifically noted the influence of Khodorkovsky, who has been living in exile in the UK since 2015, indicating that the authorities consider exiled political figures particularly threatening. The designation comes after a military court's prior ruling that sentenced exiled Anti-War Committee member Leonid Gozman to ten years in prison on dubious terrorism charges, further demonstrating the risks faced by dissenters within and outside of Russia.

This terrorist labeling is likely to have far-reaching implications for the Anti-War Committee and its members, as it intensifies the environment of repression against anti-war voices in Russia and could lead to more stringent measures against any individuals or organizations perceived as oppositional. This decision reflects the broader context of the Russian government’s efforts to suppress dissent in the face of an ongoing international conflict and reveals just how far the authorities are willing to go to silence any form of criticism or opposition to its policies regarding Ukraine.