evidence: (Berlin) – Russia’s prosecutor general’s office has declared the nongovernmental organization Open Society Foundation (OSF) to be "undesirable," banning its activities in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. The move is part of a sweeping government crackdown on independent groups, in particular those that challenge the government’s human rights record. A law adopted in May 2015 authorizes the prosecutor’s office to ban, as "undesirable," foreign or international organizations that allegedly undermine Russia’s security, defense, or constitutional order. For more than two decades, OSF has supported a wide range of initiatives in Russia, including the advancement of science, higher education, human rights, and the rule of law. "This move against OSF shows the Russian government is moving full steam ahead to close space for independent groups and public debate in Russia," said