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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the indictment against Elena Branson, Chairperson of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in the United States

9 March 2022 15:45
462-09-03-2022

On March 8, the US Department of Justice charged Elena Branson, Chair of the Russian Community Council of the USA (KSORS), with acting as an illegal foreign agent in the United States. As a reminder, the American authorities began to oust Russian compatriots from the country under far-fetched pretexts back in 2020, and they have not stopped exerting such pressure to this day. As a result, KSORS had to suspend its activities, and a number of activists of the international movement of Russian compatriots had to return to Russia.

In order for you to understand the absurdity of the accusations, I will briefly explain what KSORS does. Compatriot groups constitute a community of immigrants from Russia, united by their ethnic and cultural origin, who want to preserve their native language, traditions and history, Russian culture, while at the same time, being full members of society in their country of residence. Compatriots do not act as agents, representatives of the Russian government, or in any other capacity under its direction or control. Nor do they engage in politics, lobbying, or other activities listed under the US Foreign Agents Act that could influence the US government in terms of formulating or changing US policy.

The KSORS public activity is mainly cultural, which involves preserving Russian culture, the Russian language, and, importantly, the historical memory of World War II that Russians and Americans have in common.

In practice, the US authorities have outlawed people who represent Russian culture and everything Russian on the American continent. Russophobia is going through the roof, and, worse still, it is being made official and legal. The American authorities must realise that such actions will inevitably further undermine the US reputation in Russian society.

We demand an immediate end to the persecution and discrimination of Russian compatriots in the United States, including in everyday life, on ethnic, cultural or linguistic grounds.