Members of Russian and Belarusian rights groups and independent media organizations described varying effects of the action, from “bad” to “unpleasant.” Many get funding elsewhere, like private donations or other grants, but some said they don't know which of their partners are linked to U.S. aid and whether more will withdraw support.
US aid cutoff poses new challenges to rights groups and independent media from Russia and Belarus Rights groups, activists and independent media in Russia and Belarus endured increased government scrutiny, repressive laws and even being outlawed and forced to operate from exile abroad.
OVD-Info, a Russian rights group that tracks political arrests and offers legal aid, is largely funded by “private donations from a large number of people,” so the freeze “has little direct and immediate impact,” said OVD-Info spokesman Dmitry Anisimov, but other groups that help it with certain activities are affected.
Kovcheg — Russian for “arc” — a group helping Russians fleeing abroad with shelter, legal and psychological support, training and other support, lost 30% of its budget after Trump’s action, said its founder, Anastasia Burakova.
Burakova, who formerly headed a legal aid group in St. Petersburg backed by exiled tycoon-turned-opposition-figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky, cited repressive laws and regulations that make it harder for critical and independent groups to get funding from Russians.
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