Politics

EU slams Russia over new anti-NGO law

Law allowing prosecution of NGO employees seen as
"worrying step" in series of restrictions on freedom of
speech.
24 May 2015 15:29 GMT | Politics, Europe, Russia, Vladimir Putin, NGO

Critics say the vague wording of the legislation, and a process that bypasses the court system,
means that any group or business could be targeted [AFP]

The EU has criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for enacting a law banning what
Moscow deems to be undesirable non-government organisation.

Under the law signed by Putin on Saturday, Russian authorities can ban foreign NGOs and
prosecute their employees, who risk up to six years in prison or being barred from the country.

The new law is a "worrying step in a series of restrictions on civil society, independent media
and political opposition," a spokesperson for the EU's foreign service said in a statement on
Sunday.

"It will restrict freedom of speech and media as well as pluralism of opinion," the spokesperson
added.

The EU noted what it called "the negative opinion" of the Russian Presidential Council of
Human Rights, because the law also goes against the Russian constitution.

Critics have said the vague wording of the legislation, and a process that bypasses the court
system, means that any group or business could be targeted.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/05/eu-slams-russia-anti-ngo-law-150524150119072.html

Thursday, December 17, 2015

The Crackdown On NGOs In Russia

In early March, Russian prosecutors launched spot inspections of nongovernmental organizations

(NGOs) across the country. Hundreds of groups have already been targeted, from human rights NGOs to
environmental groups to health-care associations. Formally, prosecutors are checking compliance with a
new law forcing organizations that receive foreign funding and are deemed to engage in "political
activity" to register as "foreign agents" -- a derogatory term that critics say aims to stigmatize NGOs.
Russian authorities say the legislation, which entered into force in November 2012, aims at increasing
the transparency and accountability of NGOs. But the audits have drawn international condemnation
and raised fears of an unprecedented crackdown on civil society. The number of NGOs subjected to such
inspections is difficult to assess due to the absence of an official registry. Most are still waiting for the
inspection findings. RFE/RL is closely monitoring developments and will regularly update this chart and
map.

http://www.rferl.org/section/crackdown-on-ngos-in-russia/3272.html