The Supreme Court of Russia has granted the request of the General Prosecutor's Office to recognize the Anti-War Committee, formed by activists living in exile, as a terrorist organization. This ruling was made during a closed hearing presided over by Judge Oleg Nefyodov, who has a track record of branding non-existent groups such as the "international LGBT movement" and the "international Satanism movement" as extremist. Additionally, the court has previously designated the Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded by imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as a terrorist organization, further consolidating the state’s stance against dissent.

The Anti-War Committee was established on February 27, 2022, shortly after Russia's renewed invasion of Ukraine, as a collective of Russian civic activists and public figures aiming to halt the war and resist the regime of President Vladimir Putin. The group's manifesto emphasizes its goals of promoting peace and opposing the ongoing conflict, essentially positioning the committee in direct opposition to the government’s military objectives. This ruling forms part of a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression within Russia, particularly against groups and individuals critical of the government’s actions regarding the war in Ukraine.

Judge Nefyodov's decisions, including the dismissal of Navalny's legal claims against the Russian Ministry of Justice and the barring of opposition figures Boris Nadezhdin and Ekaterina Duncova from participating in so-called presidential elections, underscore the shrinking space for dissent and the increasing authoritarianism of the Russian state. The recognition of the Anti-War Committee as a terrorist entity not only aims to dismantle opposition but also instills fear among those advocating for peace and democratic values within Russia, signaling a stark warning against organized dissent against the regime’s militaristic strategies.