USRF supports Russian organizations within and outside Russia to defend freedoms of expression and information, property rights, and Russia’s international legal obligations. USRF support enables educational exchanges with renowned institutions in Europe and the United States, and professional development and networking programs for practicing Russian attorneys.

USRF supports the practice of law for sustainable community development, environmental protection, and measurable social changes. Another objective is to support Russian attorneys’ familiarity and capabilities surrounding the international human rights system, particularly within the UN, in defense of basic rights of Russian citizens including privacy, property, and intellectual property, against rampant abuses by the Russian state.

Professional development for Russian attorneys is a crucial initiative for promoting the integrity of the rule of law in Russia. The U.S. Russia Foundation supports the capacity-building of Russian attorneys through training and practical skills building in a variety of practice areas and establishment of networks to strengthen connection and cooperation within the legal community as well as with civil society. International arbitration has been growing in importance, and USRF grants continue to provide Russian attorneys with training, connections, and educational materials in this field.

“Our role is to support civil society organizations by obtaining legal assistance from private sector lawyers to bolster their operational health and advance their missions. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the gracious support and much-needed flexibility of The U.S. Russia Foundation was essential in allowing us to respond to the immediate legal needs of local organizations.”

“For some CSOs that had to relocate out of Russia to continue their work, we provided legal assistance on a variety of issues, such as registering their entity, opening a bank account, understanding new tax structures, and obtaining immigration assistance for their staff. Other CSOs could continue to work in-country but needed to understand how the sanctions regime would affect their work and their incoming donations. With pro bono assistance from private sector lawyers and the support of the USRF, we were able to meet the needs of many Russian organizations to keep their operations running and strengthen their resilience in the face of this crisis.”