| VA Wikimedia RU | |
| Type: | non-profit voluntary association |
| Founded: | 2008 |
| Defunct: | 2023 |
| Location: | 125009, Moscow, Vozdvizhenka Street, 10, 3rd floor, office 350 |
| Key People: | Stanislav Kozlovsky |
Wikimedia RU, also known as Wikimedia Russia was a non-profit Wikimedia chapter created to support the creation and maintenance of articles in the Russian-language Wikipedia.
The idea to create a non-profit organization promoting the development of the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia on the territory of the Russian Federation appeared as early as 2005, but active preparations began only in the fall of 2007. According to the current legislation, all members of the non-profit partnership are Russian citizens.
On May 24, 2008, the prepared founding documents were approved[1] by the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation as one of the regional Wikimedia organizations (so-called "chapters" or "Local chapters") - this date is considered by Wikimedia projects as the date of foundation of the Russian organization. The details of the non-profit partnership's relationship with the Foundation are governed by separately signed agreements.[2]
On November 21, 2008, Wikimedia RU was entered into the register of registered non-profit organizations, which marked the end of the legal registration procedure.[3] [4]
As of 2022, the director of Wikimedia Russia was Vladimir Medeyko.[5]
Following increasing attacks on its members by the Russian government under Vladimir Putin, Wikimedia Russia was shut down in 2023.[6]
Bloomberg has speculated that this may be a move toward replacing the Russian Wikipedia in Russia with Ruwiki, a Wikipedia fork seen as being more sympathetic to the Russian government's propaganda aims.[6]
On March 22, 2024, Wikimedia RU was declared a foreign agent.[7]
The partnership's office holds signs of awards given in Russia to Wikimedia projects (primarily Wikipedia):