Since 1 September 2026, Russian non-governmental organisations have been able to verify official VKontakte and Odnoklassniki pages through the Gosuslugi public services portal.
Since 1 September 2026, Russian non-governmental organisations have been able to verify their official VKontakte and Odnoklassniki pages through Gosuslugi, Russia’s public services portal. The new mechanism helps users distinguish genuine NGO communities from fake accounts created by fraudsters.
Why verification matters
NGOs actively use social media to communicate with members, share project information, run charitable campaigns and raise donations. As digital communication develops, however, the risk of fraud also grows.
Criminals may copy the names, logos and posts of well-known organisations, create fake communities and collect money in their names.
The new verification mechanism confirms that a page belongs to a particular NGO. After successful verification, the page receives a special mark showing that its account has been officially confirmed.
This verification option is provided for by a law adopted in spring 2026, which entered into force on 1 September.
This is particularly important for patient organisations. Their communities provide information about diseases, treatment, patients’ rights and available support. A verified page helps people confirm that they have found the organisation they are looking for.
How to verify an NGO page
To receive the mark, the organisation must be registered in Russia’s Unified Identification and Authentication System (ESIA). The community owner or administrator needs to:
- Open page management in VKontakte or Odnoklassniki.
- Check that the selected category is “Non-governmental organisation” or “Charitable foundation”.
- Select “Verify through Gosuslugi”.
- Sign in to the portal as an authorised employee of the organisation and consent to the data check.
A special mark will appear on the page after successful verification.
Instructions for creating a legal entity’s account are available on the Gosuslugi portal.
Protecting the organisation and its followers
The official mark helps confirm that a community is genuine, but it does not replace other digital security measures.
Organisations are advised to use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, give page-management access only to authorised staff and promptly report fake accounts to social network administrators.
Users should check organisations’ pages carefully, especially before donating. Payment details should be compared with information on the NGO’s official website. If anything seems doubtful, contact the organisation directly.
Information about an NGO can also be checked in the Russian Ministry of Justice’s NGO registers.
The Russian Patients’ Union emphasises: verifying official pages provides an additional way to protect trust between patient organisations and the people they help. Safe digital communication nevertheless depends on users’ vigilance as well as technical mechanisms.