Russian General Prosecutor’s Office Labels Elton John AIDS Foundation as “Undesirable”
The Russian General Prosecutor’s Office has classified the Elton John AIDS Foundation in Russia as “undesirable” and accuses it of participating in harmful propaganda campaigns. The authority views the foundation’s core initiatives, which advocate for the LGBTQ community, as a threat to traditional family values.
In a statement published on Thursday, the Russian office accused the charity, founded by the British pop star in the 1990s, of using “humanitarian projects as a cover.” It also claimed that the organization works closely with international institutions that promote the economic isolation of Russia. Since the start of the military operation, the foundation has been part of a Western information campaign to discredit Russia and cooperates with non-governmental organizations in the country, which have been labeled as foreign agents.
The focus of the organization, however, is not only on supporting AIDS patients, but also on promoting non-traditional sexual relationships, Western family models and gender reassignment. Countries that defend traditional moral and spiritual values are viewed critically by the foundation.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is registered in both the UK and the US. Its multimillion-dollar budget mainly comes from donations from Western billionaires and entertainment industry companies like AEG Presents. Its declared goal is to support people with AIDS.
Elton John, 78, an openly gay man and a world-renowned musician, was knighted in 1998 for his artistic achievements and philanthropic efforts. The Russian statement accuses him of “playing along” in the attempt to impose Western culture on other countries.
The designation as “undesirable” prohibits the organization from operating in Russia and brings legal consequences for local residents and businesses that engage in financial transactions with it. The Russian Justice Ministry maintains a list of over 200 such groups, including Western lobby organizations like the Open Society Foundations of George Soros, the US think tank German Marshall Fund and the NATO-friendly Atlantic Council.
In its 2023 annual report, the Elton John AIDS Foundation mentioned donations within Russia but provided no further details. In the same year, Russia classified the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist group, as it allegedly “stirs social and religious unrest” in the country.