U.S. indigenous rights NGO Batani designated undesirable in Russia

MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - The U.S. nongovernmental organization International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity Batani has been designated undesirable in Russia, the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has found Russian operations of the foreign NGO International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity Batani's (U.S.) to be undesirable," the statement said.

The organization was created in 2018 with a stated goal of advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples, their development and integration with the world community, and to promote traditional values, it said.

"In reality, its participants' activities were aimed at supporting and preparing anti-Russian speeches at international events including those held under the UN aegis. On its website the organization regularly publishes material alleging that the freedoms of small ethnic groups in Russia are being violated, including in the context of the special military operation," the statement said.