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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russian Lawmakers Approve Limits on Foreign-funded NGOs |
| 2005-11-25 |
| A proposal to restrict foreign-funded nongovernment organizations received initial parliamentary approval Wednesday amid growing Kremlin displeasure with groups that promote human rights and democracy. Critics called the move another step in President Vladimir Putin's tightening of controls over Russian society. The bill requires local branches of foreign organizations to reregister as Russian entities subject to stricter financial and legal restrictions. It also further increases government control of NGOs, allowing official oversight of their finances and activities. Foreign-funded groups say the bill, which passed 370-18 in the Russian parliament's lower house on the first of three readings, could effectively terminate their Russian operations. "The express purpose of this law is to emasculate the NGO community," said Holly Cartner, regional director of U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. The group said the bill would "eviscerate" civil society in Russia if passed. The Kremlin has shown increasing unease with non-profit groups that criticize the government. Such groups played significant roles in the mass demonstrations that brought opposition leaders to power in the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. Putin told human rights experts this summer that Russia would not allow foreign organizations to finance political activities. In May, the head of the Federal Security Service, the main successor agency to the KGB, accused U.S. and other foreign intelligence services of using NGOs to spy on Russia and foment upheaval in former Soviet republics. Authors of the bill say the measure will make the NGOs' work more transparent. Critics, however, say it is meant to silence Russia's voices of opposition. Under Putin's administration, national television has fallen into state hands, parliament has become dominated by pro-government forces and the Kremlin has eliminated popular elections of governors in far-flung provinces. The bill gives Russian authorities the right to conduct annual checks at NGO offices and issue warnings if they are found in violation of regulations. A court could close down a nonprofit group if its activity violates the Russian constitution, or if it is linked to extremist activity or money laundering. The new restrictions include a tax on contributions from donors not on a government list of tax-exempt sponsors and a requirement for founders and managers to be Russian citizens or permanent residents. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #2 "...accused U.S. and other foreign intelligence services of using NGOs to spy on Russia and foment upheaval in former Soviet republics." Golly gosh...that sounds perty underhanded. Can't imagine that would ever happen. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2005-11-25 10:17 |
| #1 The Tsar don't need no steekin' bill. Or the duma, neither. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-11-25 01:40 |