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.

The details of the non-profit partnership's relationship with the Foundation are governed by separately signed agreements.

[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.