Council of Mothers and Wives, organization dedicated to helping conscripts and mobilized men, announces termination of its work

The Council of Mothers and Wives, which was organized by relatives of mobilized men and conscripts, announced the cessation of its work, due to its declaration as a “foreign agent.”

The organization originally appeared after mobilization was announced in Russia in the fall of 2022. Its members appealed to military leadership to solve problems related to mobilization, as well as to deal with cases of people being drafted illegally. They also sought a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In November 2022, the Kremlin organized a meeting, but representatives from the Council of Mothers and Wives were not invited.

“We don’t want to act any further with this stigma, because in this form it is humiliating for women. We’ve decided that the Council of Mothers and Wives cannot exist in the form in which it’s been working all these months,” said Olga Tsukanova, head of the movement.

According to Tsukanova, the organization does not recognize itself as a “foreign agent,” and refuses to use the required notices.

Tsukanova added that she would continue her activities, along with other members of the movement. “We will still each stand up for justice where we are,” she concluded.