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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia house backs bill to tag NGOs as foreign agents |
| 2012-07-07 |
| The Russian lower house of parliament has given initial backing to a contentious bill forcing internationally-funded non-governmental organisations to carry a "foreign agent" tag. Friday's speedy crucial first reading of a bill sponsored by the ruling United Russia party comes after Vladimir Putin, the country's president, accused opposition activists demonstrating against his 12-year rule of being in the payroll of the US Department of State. Under the wide-ranging bill, all Russian NGOs funded from abroad and ruled to be involved in politics, or acting in the minterests of foreign states and other international donors, will have to carry a "foreign agent" tag and submit to more rigorous checks by the authorities. A breach of the law would be punishable by hefty fines or jail terms. Russian officials say the bill is aimed at preventing foreign states from influencing Russia's domestic politics. Critics say it is part of a broad crackdown on the opposition that followed unprecedented winter protests against Putin as well as a throwback to Stalin's time, when nearly everyone deemed to be in contact with foreign nationals was branded a spy and a foreign agent. Irina Yarovaya, one of the bill's authors, said the measure would not hinder the work of NGOs involved in charity work as opposed to politics. Ilya Ponomaryov, a lawmaker with A Just Russia, said the legislation would further polarise Russian society. The label "foreign agent" in Russian does not necessarily implicate the individual or organisation in espionage but does have a negative connotation, implying they are acting in the interests of a foreign power. Tatyana Morshchakova, one of the authors of the Russian Constitution, said that if the law was passed and enacted, the ministry of justice would be able to shut down scores of NGOs if they refused to comply. The second and the third readings of the law are expected next week. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #4 The label "foreign agent" in Russian does not necessarily implicate the individual or organisation in espionage but does have a negative connotation, implying they are acting in the interests of a foreign power. Take that...all you Smart Power pinheads. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2012-07-07 10:52 |
| #3 Thistles in their own garden is it? How unfortunate. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-07-07 07:45 |
| #2 yowzer!, That would do a number on George Zoros and the Democrats. |
| Posted by: Dale 2012-07-07 06:55 |
| #1 An example to us all. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2012-07-07 01:48 |