With the British Council declared ‘undesirable’ in Russia, could English-language exam takers face prosecution?

On June 5, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office designated the British Council an “undesirable” organization. The organization, which reports to the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, officially shut down its operations in Russia back in 2018. However, it remains one of the organizers of IELTS — one of the world’s most widely used English-language proficiency tests.

IELTS certificates are required for employment, college admission, and immigration applications in many English-speaking (and other) countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Russia, the test was also valued by prestigious employers, especially the local offices of international companies.

Until 2022, Russians could take the IELTS exam without leaving the country. But shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the exam’s organizers stopped offering it in Russia. At the same time, demand for the certificate only grew, fueled by a wave of wartime emigration. For those who still needed IELTS certification, the only option was to invest additional time and money into taking the test abroad. Now, that option may be at risk as well — this time due to a decision by the Russian authorities.

The Russian authorities may now consider paying for the IELTS exam as financing an “undesirable” organization. Depending on the country, registering for the test costs between $170 and $350. Under Article 284.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code, such an act can be punished with up to five years in prison.

For that reason, Russians planning to take the exam should take certain precautions, advises Anastasia Burakova, a lawyer and founder of the human rights organization Kovcheg (“The Ark”), which supports Russian emigrants in need:

• Russian nationals shouldn’t pay for the test using their own bank cards or those of people who travel to Russia;
• Before crossing the Russian border, they should delete any information related to exam registration from their devices;
• They shouldn’t share their exam results on social media and should remove their digital IELTS certificate from their devices before returning to Russia.

If an employer in Russia requires an IELTS certificate, individuals should be cautious about what information they share and with whom. Wherever possible, they should ensure that any data provided remains confidential. It may also help to discuss these concerns with one’s employer and suggest an alternative language proficiency test — such as a TOEFL certificate.

If the IELTS test was paid for before June 5, 2025, there is likely no reason for concern: under Russian law, criminal liability only applies after an organization is officially designated “undesirable.”

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As Burakova points out, Russian nationals can also face administrative fines of up to 15,000 rubles ($190) for associating with “undesirable organizations.” This includes the distribution of materials, so special care should be taken when publicly posting links to the British Council website, she says.

Burakova recommends that teachers remove any such links from pages and bios — even if they were posted before the “undesirable” designation — and replace the term “IELTS” with a more generic alternative, such as “language exam,” in descriptions.

We can’t say for certain — and without any legal precedent, it’s likely that no one truly knows. The Russian authorities interpret their own repressive laws as they see fit.

For example, the recent designation of Wargaming owner Victor Kislyi and Lesta Games owner Malik Khatazhayev as members of an “extremist organization” won't lead to charges of financing extremism for Russians making transactions within the video game World of Tanks. That stands in contrast to donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which have resulted in prison sentences for some of the group’s supporters.

Which outcome is more likely in the British Council’s case is hard to predict. But in either scenario, it's better to be safe than sorry.