Free Russia Foundation
Acronym: FRF
General Information
Identification Code: 171598852000-42
Website: [object Object]
Entity Form: ASBL
Registration Category: Non-governmental organisations, platforms and networks and similar
Registration Date: 11/20/2023
Last Update: 12/11/2023
EP Accredited Number: 5
Mission & Interests
Goals: Free Russia Foundation is an international organization supporting civil society and democratic development in Russia.
Our vision is a free, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Russia, reintegrated into the international community as a constructive and positive actor.
Founded in 2014, Free Russia Foundation unites and coordinates the global efforts of activists, organizations and programs that share our vision.
Our current programmatic geographies include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, South Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe, North America.
We provide actionable analysis and in-depth expertise to the decision-makers in Europe, the US and Canada— in support of a smarter, sustainable Russia policy.
We are a non-partisan and non-profit organization registered as a 501C3. Free Russia Foundation’s work is supported by charitable giving of individuals and organizations, grants and volunteer work.
Interests Represented: Does not represent commercial interests
Interests:
- Energy
- Enlargement
- European neighbourhood policy
- External relations
- Foreign affairs and security policy
- Humanitarian aid and civil protection
- International co-operation and development
- Justice and fundamental rights
- Migration and asylum
Levels of Interest:
- european
- global
Activities
Main EU Legislative Proposals: • Informing and providing expertise about political and social realities in the Russian Federation;
• Providing proposals for the elaboration of the comprehensive EU strategy towards the Russian Federation in order to give an impetus for a transformation of Russia into a stable democracy;
• Proposals on issues related to the Russian Federation`s malign influence on the EU society and its interference in all democratic processes, including disinformation in the European Union, Western Balkans and EuroNest PA countries;
• Contributing to increasing the effectiveness of the EU's sanctions policy against the Russian Federation;
• Advocating for including the individuals and the Russian Federation`s affiliated governmental bodies and structures on the EU sanctions list, whose activities are incompatible with the Council Regulation ((EU) No 269/2014) concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine;
• Identification of loopholes in the framework of the EU sanctions policy against the Russian Federation; advising on the ways in which the current government of the Russian Federation and its affiliated actors circumvent the EU sanctions and improving mechanisms for countering such circumvention.
Communication Activities: 23/10/2023 - meeting with Jon KYST, Russian Division, EEAS;
24/10/2023 - meeting with AFET Vice-Chair MEP Witold WASZCZYKOWSKIY;
24/10/2023 - meeting with Vanessa CUEVASS, DG EXPO, European Parliament;
24/10/2023 - Participation of Vladimir MILOV, Vice-President of Free Russia Foundation in the 13th Transatlantic European Conference as the speaker by the invitation of the Wilfried Martens Centre, EPP think-tank;
25/10/2023 - Meeting with in-shadow rapporteur on Russia MEP Bernard GUETTA;
25/10/2023 - Joint meeting with MEP Andrey KOVATCHEV and EPP-group`s advisor Jan-willem VLASSMAN;
26/10/2023 - In-house event: `Democratisation of Russia: is it possible?`;
26/10/2023 - Meeting with in-shadow rapporteur on Ukraine MEP Petras AUSTREVICIUS;
26/10/2023 - Participation of Vladimir MILOV, Free Russia Vice-President in the event of the Forum of Friend of European Russia informal group in the European Parliament;
26/10/2023 - meeting with ALDE Co-President, MEP Ilkhan KYUCHYUK;
26/10/2023 - meeting with S&D-group advisor Julia WANNINGER;
27/10/2023 - joint event with the GLOBSEC think-tank: `effectiveness of EU sanctions on Russia`;
14/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with EU-Russia Public Diplomacy Division;
14/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with Jon KYST, Russian Division, EEAS;
14/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with East Task Stratcom, EEAS;
15/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with DG NEAR & INTPA, European Commission;
16/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with ALDE Co-President, MEP Ilkhan KYUCHYUK;
16/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with Patrick VOLLER, EPP external director;
17/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with special rapporteur on Russia MEP Andrius KUBILIUS;
17/11/2023 - in-house event `The Kremlin`s new generation disinformation weapon` with participation Ivan BOTOUTCHAROV, APA, European Parliament;
17/11/2023 - FRF`s delegation meeting with EPRS;
27/11/2023 - Participation of Mr Vladimir MILOV, the Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, in the European Parliament AFET committee hearings on sanctions against Russia;
04/10/2023 - Joint event with the GLOBSEC think-tank on publishing the report `Federalisation of Russia - The Only Way to Democracy` with the participation of MEP Andrius Kubilius;
04/10/2023 - Participation of Vladimir MILOV, Free Russia Vice-President and Fyodor KRASHENINNIKOV, advisor to the FRF`s president in the event of the Forum of Friend of European Russia informal group in the European Parliament;
08/12/2023 - Meeting of Evgenia KARA-MURZA with S&D Vice-President MEP Pedro MARQUES;
08/12/2023 - Meeting of Evgenia KARA-MURZA with EU Special Envoy on Human Rights Ealmon GILMORE
Inter-institutional or Unofficial Groupings: Unofficial groupings
Head Office
Address: St. NW, Suite 600
Post Code: 20005
City: Washington
Country: UNITED STATES
Phone: [object Object]
EU Office
Address: Louizalaan 146
Post Code: 1050
City: Brussels
Country: BELGIUM
Phone: [object Object]
Financial Data
New Organisation: true
Current Year: [object Object]
Complementary Information: Free Russia Foundation in Brussels is a newly formed, legally independent entity that was officially registered in August 2022. It is founded by the same individual as the original Free Russia Foundation in DC, Natalia Arno. At present, we are still in the process of opening a bank account and establishing fully independent operations in Belgium. We have four local staff currently on contract with the Free Russia Foundation in Brussels, and they are being paid directly from the DC office in the interim, while the office in Brussels establishes and formalizes its operations and administration.
In the meantime, all executive, operational and financial responsibilities remain with the DC entity, which is funded largely by various programs from the U.S. government, such as the Department of State’s Office of Democracy, Rights and Labor, and USAID. Some additional funding is coming in from other donors such as the National Endowment for Democracy, NATO, and the European Endowment for Democracy. In sum, our DC office reported receiving $3,363,157 in grants and donations in 2022.
The affiliation of the two entities will separate administratively upon the full establishment of the office in Brussels but will continue to collaborate closely on programming. This programming will largely focus on advancing the Free Russia Foundation’s mission of supporting and amplifying pro-democratic and anti-war Russian civil society through advocacy, research, and reporting. The two entities will work in tandem to bridge the information gaps from grassroots civil society inside and outside of Russia and key stakeholders in the US and the EU.
Membership Information
Members10 Percent: 0
Members25 Percent: 1
Members50 Percent: 0
Members75 Percent: 0
Members: 5
Members F T E: 4.25
Structure
Structure Type: Structure
Is Member Of: Free Russia Foundation US
Foundation for Democratic Development