The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), founded by American actor George Clooney and his wife, lawyer Amal Clooney, was declared "undesirable" in Russia on Monday, August 19, 2024. The Russian General Prosecutor’s Office accuses the organization of subversive activities aimed at discrediting Russian authorities and supporting groups it labels as extremists and terrorists. This decision comes in the context of increasing repression against certain international organizations and voices deemed dissident in Russia.
George Clooney, an American actor whose reputation is well-established, has also become a prominent figure engaged in numerous humanitarian causes. His Hollywood career, marked by successful films, has never diverted his attention from his personal convictions. Clooney has regularly used his fame to defend human rights, fight against injustices, and support conflict victims. With Amal Clooney, a lawyer specializing in human rights, they created the Clooney Foundation for Justice in 2016 to solidify their commitment to international justice. The foundation aims to defend the rights of persecuted individuals, monitor unfair trials, and combat human rights violations worldwide.
In particular, the CFJ has played a key role in documenting war crimes in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The foundation has helped gather evidence of human rights violations and promote legal action against those responsible for these crimes. This approach, focused on transparency and justice, quickly made the CFJ a target for the Russian government.
Russian authorities, under the presidency of Vladimir Putin, have intensified their crackdown on certain NGOs and foreign entities perceived as destabilizing agents. Since the introduction of the "undesirable organizations" law in 2015, many international organizations have been banned from the country. The Kremlin, still at war with Ukraine, faces numerous sanctions. It justifies these bans by invoking the need to protect national security and public order.
Despite this ban, the CFJ will likely continue its efforts on an international scale. George and Amal Clooney, thanks to their status and commitment, have the ability to mobilize global public opinion against what they consider to be blatant injustices.