Elena Sharoykina

In 2004, Sharoykina established the anti-GMO organization National Association for Genetic Safety (NAGS).^{[citation needed]} Dr. Alexander Baranoff from Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences was elected as president of NAGS. Sharoykina was appointed as director of NAGS.

In November 2014 Sharoykina became the main coordinator of the FACTOR GMO^[3] study, international project - touted to become the world's largest and most comprehensive study on GMOs' safety. The public was asked to donate US$ 25 million to fund the project. However, after a few months, the whole thing quietly disappeared, and was never heard of again. ^[4][5][6][7]

Sharoykina regularly participates in working groups on environmental and food safety issues in the State Duma,^[8] Russian ministries and agencies. She takes part in news and analytical programs on federal TV channels,^[9] and gives lectures on ecology and food safety at different public premises (Central House of artists, Red October etc.).^[10]

Sharoykina is an author and a member of the editorial council of Science & Religion magazine, and a columnist for Russian newspapers Green City^[11] and Vzglyad.^[12]

She is alleged to be an important player in Russian propaganda activities against Ukraine. ^[13]

She is a member of the Public Control Development Council in the Committee on Public and Religious Organizations in the State Duma.

According to some assessments, Sharoykina has played a key role in lobbying for anti-GMO laws in Russia.^[14] Critics also claim that she was acting with the help of powerful government institutions of Russia behind her lobbying activities.^[15]