• Dim Amor

Soon, the case will reach Israeli courts, and the truth may be exposed.

A dramatic revelation is shaking one of Russia's most prominent human rights organizations: The Alexei Navalny Foundation (FBK) is accused of providing protection to bank managers convicted of stealing billions of rubles, using the guise of opposition activities. Now, this explosive case is set to reach Israeli courts.

An explosive investigation published by Russian-Israeli blogger Maxim Katz exposes a sophisticated system of fraud and concealment, allegedly centered around the Navalny Foundation. According to the publication, the foundation serves as a protective umbrella for senior Russian banking industry officials who fled to Europe after being convicted of stealing vast sums. Instead of facing justice, Katz claims, these managers present themselves as victims of political persecution, with the Navalny Foundation providing them extensive lobbying services in Europe.

"This is a brilliantly cynical method," quote sources familiar with the investigation details. "While the world sees the Navalny Foundation as a symbol of anti-corruption struggle, it allegedly assists financial criminals in evading punishment by exploiting its reputation as a human rights organization".

In a heated interview with Russian channel "tvrain" (Dozhd), Katz leveled severe accusations: "These bankers robbed the Russian public, and now they're hiding behind a smoke screen of political persecution. The Navalny Foundation has become a sanctuary for white-collar criminals".

The Navalny Foundation's response was swift: a threat of a defamation lawsuit in Israel, where Katz holds citizenship. "They chose Israel as a legal battleground because they know the truth will come out here", Katz said confidently. "If the Israeli court confirms my investigation's findings, it could lead to a domino effect, collapsing the immunity they've built in Europe".

Russian courts have already established the guilt of the involved bank managers, but they managed to escape to Europe before imprisonment. Now, according to the investigation, they enjoy protection from a sophisticated lobbying network established by the Navalny Foundation, which presents them as persecuted freedom fighters.

The case raises pointed questions about the connection between human rights activities and black money, and how legitimate political struggles can be exploited as cover for criminal activity. Soon, Israeli courts may need to rule on these questions, in a decision that could resonate far beyond the country's borders.

Background Note on the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK)
The Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK or ACF), a non-governmental organization in Russia established in 2011 by opposition figure Alexei Navalny, focused on exposing alleged corruption among senior Russian government officials. The foundation was funded through private donations. In 2019, the Russian Ministry of Justice declared the foundation a "foreign agent," and in 2021 it was declared an extremist organization and dissolved. Navalny, recognized as a significant opposition leader, announced the foundation's reopening as an international body in July 2022 while imprisoned.

The foundation's purpose, as presented by its manager Vladimir Ashurkov, was to generate public pressure on the government to push for internal reforms and provide an alternative to the existing system. The foundation was officially registered in September 2011, and according to Ashurkov, the founders gained experience in transparent public funding through the RosPil project, where activities were supported through donations via the Yandex.Money system. The foundation's goal was to permanently integrate professional lawyers and economists to expose and prevent corruption in the public procurement system.

The investigation into FBK included a series of serious accusations, including money laundering of about one billion rubles (later reduced to 75 million rubles), and lawsuits by state-owned companies against the foundation for "organizing riots." The foundation was required to pay for expenses that the police claimed were caused during demonstrations.

On October 9, 2019, the foundation was declared a "foreign agent" due to receiving civilian donations from abroad, including from the USA and Spain. Despite returning the donations, the Russian Ministry of Justice did not remove FBK from the list of "foreign agents".