Environmentalism, Kremlin Style

In Russia, the government increasingly undermines independent environmental activism by promoting so-called "GONGOs" — government-organized non-governmental organizations. These state-backed groups imitate grassroots initiatives while pushing official narratives. According to an investigation by the nonprofit Arktida and independent outlet Khroniki.Media, GONGOs are taking control of environmental discourse across the country, especially in the Arctic.

Authorities no longer try to conceal that most state support goes to organizations they created. Ilya Chukalin, director of the Presidential Grants Foundation, admitted that in 2023, 90% of the foundation’s funds were allocated to state-aligned NGOs. These “ecological” GONGOs are often staffed by former officials from environmental agencies or advisors to major state-owned corporations. 

The move comes as a crackdown on independent voices intensified after the start of Russia’s War on Ukraine. A total of 38 environmental groups have been labeled “foreign agents,” with 25 subsequently dissolved. In the Arctic region, this repression is particularly pronounced. Komi-based eco-activist Alexey Semyonov, for instance, was sentenced to 250 hours of community service for allegedly insulting a government official during a protest over waste regulations. In Krasnoyarsk, activist Evgeniya Elizaryeva was forcibly hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation under similar charges. Meanwhile, international organizations like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund have been declared undesirable, forcing them to end decades of work in the country.

In the vacuum left behind, GONGOs have flourished. One of the most prominent is the Rossiyskoe Ecologicheskoe Obshchestvo, or REO (Russian Ecological Society), established in 2017, the year Vladimir Putin declared a national "Year of Ecology." The idea came from individuals with no background in environmental science: Rashid Ismailov, a lawyer and former business executive; Denis Panshin from the Association of Lawyers of Russia; and Ruslan Gubaidullin, who has ties with the waste business. Ismailov later became one of the key figures behind efforts to have Greenpeace and WWF declared foreign agents, submitting repeated requests to the Ministry of Justice on behalf of REO.

REO quickly integrated itself into the national environmental policy framework. Initially part of the "Ecology" federal project, the organization transitioned into the successor program, with Ismailov now chairing its public expert council. These institutional ties provided REO with privileged access to state resources. 

Furthermore, REO built partnerships with major companies like Gazprom, Lukoil, Russian Railways, and Rosatom subsidiaries. Its operations—media campaigns, school programs, and community events— are funded through both state grants and corporate sponsorships from giants like Severstal and PhosAgro.

The growth of GONGOs is not limited to REO. In 2022, the Compass Foundation was launched with support from former environment minister Dmitry Kobylkin. Its board includes Rosprirodnadzor head Svetlana Radionova and is directed by Kobylkin’s former press secretary, Tatyana Kovaleva. 

Compass has ties with NaftaGaz, one of the largest oil service companies in northern Russia. When Kobylkin was minister, the number of environmental inspections into NaftaGaz operations declined sharply or ceased to be publicly reported, suggesting potential informal protection.

This blending of politics, business, and environmentalism is further evident in legislative initiatives. In 2023, Kobylkin and State Duma deputy Evgeny Markov co-authored amendments to the Forest Code allowing logging for exploratory drilling. 

Another key GONGO operating in the Russian Arctic is Zelenaya Arktika (Green Arctic). Founded with support from the Yamal branch of the Russian Geographical Society and various state institutions, it works closely with the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. Among its corporate partners are Gazprom, Lukoil, Transneft, Achimgaz, and Novatek’s Arctic projects. It also collaborates with Chistaya Arktika (Clean Arctic), a REO-linked initiative led by Gubaidullin, with backing from Norilsk Nickel and Rosatom and media promotion by outlets like state-owned Russia Today and TASS.

Though branded as ecological, the activities of Zelenaya Arktika often serve mere PR objectives. Volunteer expeditions to clean Arctic coastlines are heavily promoted, but deeper systemic issues, like oil pipeline leaks or outdated energy infrastructure, are ignored. The group’s leadership includes former regional officials with extensive ties to government institutions. 

Meanwhile, independent activists are harassed simply for documenting environmental damage. In the Komi Republic, police investigated activists for inspecting an oil spill that a subsidiary of Transneft — Zelenaya Arktika’s partners — allegedly attempted to conceal.

Despite this, high-profile cleanups, forums, and press conferences are framed as comprehensive environmental action. Yet they do not address fundamental issues: deteriorating infrastructure, increased risk of ecological disasters, melting permafrost, and accelerating wildfires. Russia’s own Energy Strategy through 2050 commits to continued expansion of oil, gas, and coal production, even as the rest of the world shifts toward renewables.