Russia - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL

Russia - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL 

RESEARCH CENTER 

Online Library 

Resources by Theme 

International Journal of Notfor-Profit 

Law 

NGO Law Monitor 

Afghanistan 

Algeria 

Azerbaijan 

Bangladesh 

Belarus 

Cambodia 

China 

Colombia 

Ecuador 

Egypt 

El Salvador 

Ethiopia 

Honduras 

Indonesia 

Iraq 

Jordan 

Kenya 

Lebanon 

Malaysia 

Mexico 

Morocco 

Nepal 

Nicaragua 

Nigeria 

Pakistan 

Palestine 

Panama 

Peru 

Russia 

Rwanda 

Saudi Arabia 

Sierra Leone 

South Africa 

Tajikistan 

Turkey 

Turkmenistan 

Uganda 

Uzbekistan 

http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/russia.html[11/15/2012 2:02:58 PM] 

NGO Law Monitor: Russia 

Introduction | At a Glance | Key Indicators | International Rankings 

Legal Snapshot | Legal Analysis | Reports | News and Additional Resources 

Download PDF Version 

Last updated 15 November 2012 

Update: Russia enacted the Federal Law Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian 

Federation Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Function 

of Foreign Agents. The law will come into effect in November 2012, 120 days after its publication in the mass 

media on July 23, 2012. The law will require all non-commercial organizations (NCOs) to register with a 

specially authorized governmental body prior to receipt of funding from any foreign sources if they intend to 

conduct political activities. Such NCOs are to be called "NCOs carrying functions of a foreign agent." In 

addition, on September 19, 2012, Russia ordered the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to 

halt its work in Russia by October 1, alleging that USAID was meddling in domestic politics by providing 

grants for election monitoring and other programs. Notably, local elections in Russia are scheduled to be held 

on October 14, two weeks after USAID is shut down. For more information, please see Pending NGO 

Legislative / Regulatory Initiatives. 

Introduction 

Grants & Fellowships | Jobs | Staff Intranet | 

Programs Research Center News About Us Contact Us 

Civil society in Russia consists of more than 220,000 non-commercial organizations and public associations 

(collectively referred to as “non-governmental organizations” or “NGOs”). Russian government regulation of 

civil society has been much in the spotlight since January 2006, when Russia enacted the Russian Federation 

Law, On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation (the 2006 Russian 

NGO Law). The 2006 Russian NGO Law introduced burdensome and difficult-to-meet reporting requirements 

for NGOs, accompanied by severe penalties for non-compliance; new and similarly burdensome registration 

procedures for Russian and foreign NGOs operating in Russia; and new broad powers of the registration 

bodies to audit the activities of NGOs. The legislation raised special concerns because it allowed for broad 

and restrictive interpretation. Some reporting requirements are not only difficult and costly to comply with, 

but also generally hard to understand, leaving room for discretion in determining whom to target when 

enforcing these rules. 

The election of President Dmitry Medvedev in 2008, fueled hope that the legal framework for civil society 

would improve. In June 2009, the State Duma adopted amendments to Russian Federal Law No. 7-FZ of 

January 12, 1996, “On Non-Commercial Organizations” (NGO Law)[1] that came into force on August 1, 

2009.[2] These amendments made a number of changes, including the following: 

Small non-commercial organizations (NCOs) that do not receive foreign funding and have no foreign 

founders are exempt from formal reporting of annual revenue totaling less than 3 million rubles, or 

approximately US $100,000; 

All NCOs may make required reports on their activities publicly available by either posting the reports 

on their web site or publishing the report in selected media; 

Mandatory government audits of NCOs no longer take place annually, but rather every three years -the 

same as for commercial enterprises; 

If an NCO does not submit all of the documents required for registration or if there are mistakes in the 

submitted documents, in lieu of an automatic denial of registration, the registration process may be 

suspended for up to three months, until the applicant completes or corrects the application. The 

registration body will proceed with registering an NCO once the application file is complete. 

In considering a registration application, the registration body may only request documents specified in 

the law; and 

Refusal to register a foreign NCO representative office may no longer be based on criteria such as 

“threats to unique character, cultural heritage, or national interests of the Russian Federation.” These 

criteria have been removed from the law.


Venezuela 

Yemen 

Zimbabwe 

African Union 

Association of Southeast 

Asian Nations 

Council of Europe 

League of Arab States 

Organization of American 

States 

Organization of Islamic 

Cooperation 

Organization for Security 

and Cooperation in Europe 

United Nations Human 

Rights Council 

Global Trends in NGO Law 


In May 2012 Vladimir Putin regained the presidency. President Putin, in July 2012, signed a law Introducing 

Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Regulation of Activities of 

Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Function of Foreign Agents. The law will require all noncommercial 

organizations (NCOs) to register with a specially authorized governmental body prior to receipt of 

funding from any foreign sources if they intend to conduct political activities. Such NCOs are to be called 

"NCOs carrying functions of a foreign agent." 

Other restrictive laws have been enacted since Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency. In June 2012, 150fold 

and 300-fold increases to existing fines for violating rules on the participation in and organization of 

public protests for individuals and organizations, respectively, were enacted. In July 2012, libel was 

reintroduced as a criminal offence in Russia, which mandates fines on media outlets of up to two million 

rubles (approximately $61,000) for producing “libelous” public statements. Also in July 2012, changes 

introduced to the Law on "Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection" increased 

Internet censorship and curbed the freedom of expression. 

[1] On July 17, 2009, Russian President Medvedev signed amendments to the NGO Law. 

[2] A Russian version of the amendments is available at http://www.icnl.org/research/library/. 

At a Glance 

Organizational Forms Non-commercial organizations, public associations 

Registration Body Ministry of Justice 

Approximate Number Of 220,000 NCOs, 70% are public associations 

Barriers to Entry 

Barriers to Activities 

Barriers to Speech 

and/or Advocacy 

Barriers to International 

Contact 

Barriers to Resources 

Key Indicators 

Certain persons, including foreign persons and stateless persons, may not 

become founders, members, or participants. 

Back to Top 

Registration procedures are overly bureaucratic, with excessive documentation 

requirements. 

Burdensome reporting requirements. 

Supervisory power allowing for interference with internal affairs of public 

associations and NCOs 

Potential restrictions against NCO advocacy activity may arise through 

application of criminal or administrative penalties codes 

No legal barriers 

Foreign or international organizations wishing to make tax-exempt grants to 

Russian citizens or NCOs must be on a list of organizations approved by the 

Russian Government; access to this list is severely limited. 

NCOs that carry out political activities and receive foreign funding are labeled 

"NCOs carrying functions of a foreign agent." 

Population 140,041,247 (July 2009 est.) 

Capital Moscow 

Type of Government Federation 

Life Expectancy at Birth 66.03 years 

Literacy Rate 99.4% 

Religious Groups 

Ethnic Groups 

Back to Top 

Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.) 

note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of 

non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of 

Soviet rule. 

Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%, other or 

unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)



GDP per capita $15,800 (2008 est.) 

Source: The World Factbook. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009. 

International Rankings 

Ranking Body Rank 

Ranking Scale 

(best – worst 

possible) 

UN Human Development Index 71 1 – 182 

World Bank Rule of Law Index 16.7 (2007) 100 – 0 

World Bank Voice & Accountability Index 20.2 (2007) 100 – 0 

Transparency International 147 1 – 180 

Freedom House: Freedom in the World 

Status: Not Free 

Political Rights: 6 

Civil Liberties:5 

Foreign Policy: Failed States Index 71 177 – 1 

Legal Snapshot 

International and Regional Human Rights Agreements 

Back to Top 

Free/Partly Free/Not 

Free 

1 – 7 

1 – 7 

Key International Agreements Ratification* Year 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Yes 1973 

Optional Protocol to ICCPR (ICCPR-OP1) Yes 1991 

International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) Yes 1973 

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize 

Convention 

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial 

Discrimination (ICERD) 

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against 

Women (CEDAW) 

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination 

Against Women 

Yes 1956 

Yes 1969 

No** -- 

Yes 2004 

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Yes 1990 

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant 

Workers and Members of their Families (ICRMW) 

No -- 

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) No** -- 

Regional Treaties 

European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental 

Freedoms 

Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human 

Dimension of the CSCE 

* Category includes ratification, accession, or succession to the treaty 

** Country is a signatory to the agreement, but has not formally ratified it 

Constitutional Framework 

Yes 1998 

Yes 1990 

Back to Top 

The Constitution of the Russian Federation (as amended December 30, 2008) includes the following relevant 

provisions: 

Article 19



1. All people shall be equal before the law and courts. 

2. The State shall guarantee the equality of rights and freedoms of man and citizen, regardless of sex, race, 

nationality, language, origin, property and official status, place of residence, religion, convictions, 

membership of public associations, and also of other circumstances. All forms of limitations of human rights 

on social, racial, national, linguistic or religious grounds shall be banned. 

3. Men and women shall enjoy equal rights and freedoms and have equal possibilities to exercise them. 

Article 28: Everyone shall be guaranteed the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, including the 

right to profess individually or together with others any religion or to profess no religion at all, to freely 

choose, possess and disseminate religious and other views and act according to them. 

Article 29 

1. Everyone shall be guaranteed the freedom of ideas and speech. 

2. Propaganda or agitation instigating social, racial, national or religious hatred and strife shall not be 

allowed. The propaganda of social, racial, national, religious or linguistic supremacy shall be banned. 

3. No one may be forced to express his views and convictions or to reject them. 

4. Everyone shall have the right to freely look for, receive, transmit, produce and distribute information by 

any legal means. The list of data comprising state secrets shall be determined by a federal law. 

5. The freedom of mass communication shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be banned. 

Article 30 

1. Everyone shall have the right to association, including the right to create trade unions for the protection of 

his or her interests. The freedom of activity of public association shall be guaranteed. 

2. No one may be compelled to join any association and remain in it. 

National Laws and Regulations Affecting Sector 

Relevant national-level laws and regulations affecting civil society include: 

Constitution of the Russian Federation, December 12, 1993. 

Civil Code of the Russian Federation, Part I, Federal Law No. 51-FZ, November 30, 1994 as amended. 

Civil Code of the Russian Federation, Part II, Federal Law No. 14-FZ, January 26, 1996, as amended. 

Federal Law No. 7-FZ, "On Non-Commercial Organizations," January 12, 1996, as amended (NCO Law). 

Federal Law No. 135-FZ, "On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations," August 11, 1995, as 

amended (Charities Law). 

Federal Law No. 82-FZ, "On Public Associations," May 19, 1995, as amended (Law on Public 

Associations). 

Federal Law No. 95-FZ, "On Gratuitous Assistance," May 4, 1999, as amended (Law on Gratuitous 

Assistance). 

Special Part of the RF Tax Code regulating property tax of legal entities, effective since January 1, 2004. 

Federal Law No. 129-FZ, "On State Registration of Legal Entities," August 8, 2001 (Law on Registration 

of Legal Entities). 

Federal Law No. 275-FZ, "On Endowments," December 30, 2006. 

Tax Code of the Russian Federation, Part I, Federal Law No. 146-FZ, July 31, 1998, as amended. 

Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 18-FZ, "On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative 

Acts of the Russian Federation," January 17, 2006. 

Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation # 212, “On measures aimed at 

implementing certain provisions of the federal laws regulating activities of non-commercial 

organizations,” April 15, 2006. 

Decree of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation #222, "On the Procedure of State Control of 

NCO activity (including Spending of Resources)," June 22, 2006. 

Tax Code of the Russian Federation, Part II, Federal Law No. 118-FZ, August 5, 2000, as 

amended.[Excerpts] 

Amendments to the Federal Law NO. 7-FZ of January 12, 1996 On Non-Commercial Organizations (with 

the Amendments and Additions of November 26, 1998, July 8, 1999, March 21, 2002, December 28, 

2002, December 23, 2003, January 10, February 2, November 3, December 30, 2006, March 2, May 17, 

June 26, November 29, December 1, 2007, May 13, July 22, 23, 2008 ) (adopted by the State Duma and 

approved by the Council of Federation in July 2009). 

Amendments to the law on public rallies and the administrative code, adopted by the lower chamber of 

the Russian Parliament on June 5, 2012 and endorsed by the upper chamber on June 6, 2012



The law "Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation in Part Regulating 

Activities of Non-commercial Organisations, which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents," July 21, 2012. 

The law on "Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection,” July 30, 2012 

Pending NGO Legislative / Regulatory Initiatives 

Russia enacted the Federal Law Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation 

Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Function of Foreign 

Agents. The new law will come into effect in November 2012, 120 days after its publication in the mass 

media on July 23, 2012. The law will require all non-commercial organizations (NCOs) to register with a 

specially authorized governmental body prior to receipt of funding from any foreign sources if they intend to 

conduct political activities. Such NCOs are to be called "NCOs carrying functions of a foreign agent." 

The law contains other new provisions that have the potential to significantly affect both Russian and foreign 

organizations carrying out activities in Russia. The provisions are ambiguous and may require elaboration in 

regulations yet to be promulgated. In addition, new legislation affecting non-commercial organizations 

(NCOs) has been proposed. This legislation includes: 

Draft Federal Law on Changes to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses, in part 

regulating activities of NCOs that carry out the functions of a foreign agent (draft law № 109968-6), 

which passed the first reading in the Duma on September 11, 2012 

Draft Federal Law on Changes to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (in part changing criminal 

legislation in the area of protection of state secrets from criminal offenses) (draft law № 139314-5), 

which passed the first reading in Duma on September 21, 2012 

Draft Resolution by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Russia Bank) on Amendments to Annex 

#8 to the Procedure on Provision by Credit Organizations to the Designated Body of Information, 

Required in the Federal Law On Counteracting Legalization (Money Laundering) of Incomes Received in 

a Criminal Way, and Financing Terrorism, which was approved by the Russia Bank on August 29, 2008 # 

321-П and published on September 18, 2012 

All of the above mentioned legislation will be adopted and enacted in fall 2012. 

Several other legislative and regulatory initiatives are currently pending, including the following: 

On July 30, 2012, an MP announced that the draft Law on Volunteers would not be sent to the Duma 

after NGOs argued that the law would result in burdensome administrative procedures and delays in 

carrying out activities. As a compromise, new amendments which prevent volunteer-related expenses 

from being taxed will be incorporated into the Law on Public Associations and into the Tax Code. 

In the fall of 2010, ICNL and Lawyers for Civil Society (LCS) prepared a model draft law on state support 

of NGOs to promote the implementation of provisions on socially oriented organizations in the Federal 

Law on Non-commercial Organizations. At the beginning of 2011, the Council on Federations’ 

Commission on Civil Society Institutions Development sent to all regional legislative bodies letters 

urging them to consider the adoption of the draft model regional law on the state support of socially 

oriented organizations. Several regional Dumas have begun consideration of such legislation. For 

example, the Law on “Cooperation between the State Power of the Volgograd Region and Socially 

Oriented Organizations” was adopted in June 2011. At least 20 other regions have drafted legislation 

based on the model law. Such regional laws might contribute to improved governmental funding of 

NGOs, and consequently, to their sustainability. 

The Draft Law on Public Control, which includes provisions that could help provide more opportunities 

for NGO engagement in policy-making, is currently under discussion by a special working group 

created by the Presidential Council on Human Rights and Civil Society. 

A package of amendments to the Civil Code (over 400 pages) is under discussion in the Ministries. If 

adopted, the reform package would have a profound impact on civil society, as it would reduce the 

number of available legal forms for NGOs. 

Draft amendments to the Federal Law “On Counteraction to Extremist Activity” have been registered by 

the State Duma. 

We are unaware of any other pending legislative/regulatory initiatives affecting NGOs. Please help keep us 

informed; if you are aware of pending initiatives, write to ICNL at infoicnl@icnl.org. 

Legal Analysis 

Back to Top



Organizational Forms 

The Russian Federation (Russia) recognizes a large number of organizational forms of non-governmental, 

non-commercial organizations (NCOs), resulting in a complex and oftentimes contradictory regulatory 

framework. The Civil Code and the Federal Law on Non-commercial Organizations (NCO Law) establish the 

primary NCO legal framework and define a variety of NCO forms (approximately 27), including public 

organizations, foundations, institutions, non-profit partnerships, and autonomous non-governmental 

organizations. The primary requirements are that NCOs, whatever their type, do not have the generation of 

profit as their primary objective and do not distribute any such profit among their participants (Article 50(1), 

Civil Code). The Federal Law on Public Associations builds upon this framework and carves out a subcategory 

of NCOs called "public associations" which consist of public organizations, mass movements, public 

foundations, public institutions, and several other forms. Some 220,000 NCOs are registered in Russia; 

approximately 70% of them are public associations. 

Public Benefit Status 

NCOs may register as a charity pursuant to the Charities Law. Federal law, however, does not provide any 

benefits that are particular to registered charities. Although legislation at the regional and local levels offers 

tax benefits to charities, they do not necessarily require the organization to be registered as a charity at the 

federal level. Tax benefits under Russian law are primarily tied to the support or performance of particular 

activities specified in the Tax Code. Registration of an NCO as a charity pursuant to the Charities Law 

provides the organization with a particular status and subjects the organization to heightened scrutiny, but 

this status does not in itself provide any unique tax benefits. 

Amendments enacted to the NCO Law in April 2010 introduced the status of “socially oriented” organizations. 

Under the new law, socially oriented organizations will be eligible for governmental support and preferential 

tax treatment. NGOs engaged in a broad range of activities, including traditional charitable work, the 

provision of free-of-charge legal aid and the protection of human rights, will be eligible for the new legal 

status, and in turn, for governmental support. 

Barriers to Entry 

Russian law defines certain restrictions regarding potential founders of NCOs. Regarding non-citizens, only 

those foreign nationals and stateless persons who are “legally domiciled in the Russian Federation” may be 

founders, members, or participants in public associations or NCOs. Certain persons may not become 

founders, members or participants, including: 

Foreign nationals or stateless persons whose stay is deemed “undesirable”; 

Persons appearing on a money laundering and anti-terrorist financing watch list maintained by the 

Russian government; 

Organizations that have been suspended under the Law Countering Extremist Activities; 

Persons found by court decision to show signs of participating in extremist activity; and 

Persons who are currently incarcerated as a result of conviction of a crime. 

Public associations, such as public organizations and public foundations, by definition can be created only by 

natural persons. These organizations cannot be founded by legal persons, but other public organizations may 

join as members (Articles 18 and 19, Law on Public Associations). By comparison, legal persons, including 

commercial entities, may found all other forms of NCOs. 

A non-commercial organization shall be subject to state registration in compliance with the NCO law and 

Federal Law No. 129-FZ of August 8, 2001 on the State Registration of Legal Entities and Individual 

Businessmen (hereinafter referred to as the Federal Law on State Registration of Legal Entities and Individual 

Businessmen). Public associations shall be subject to state registration in compliance with the Law on Public 

Associations and Federal Law on State Registration of Legal Entities and Individual Businessmen. The 

registration process for all types of NGOs is overly bureaucratic, with a long list of documents required to be 

submitted to the authorized governmental body. The same is true for foreign NGOs seeking to establish a 

branch office. 

Barriers to Operational Activity 

Public associations, with the exception of specialized organizations such as trade unions and political 

associations, have virtually no restrictions on the activities they may pursue as their primary objectives (Article 

5, Law on Public Associations), including mutual benefit activities (Article 6(1), NCO Law, and Article 8, Law 

on Public Associations). 

All foundations are required to engage in public benefit activities (Article 118(1), Civil Code, Article 7(1), NCO 

Law, and Article 10, Law on Public Associations). The primary activities of institutions are broadly defined as



any managerial, socio-cultural or other activities of a not-for-profit nature (Article 120, Civil Code, Article 9, 

NCO Law, and Article 11, Law on Public Associations). Charities are required to promote at least one of the 

enumerated charitable activities indicated in the law (Article 2, Charities Law). 

Articles 29 and 38 of the Law on Public Associations impose burdensome reporting requirements on public 

associations (PAs), by requiring them to submit information about the funding and property they receive from 

foreign and international organizations and foreign persons to the registration authority. Article 32 of the Law 

on NCOs imposes reporting requirements for NCOs and requires NCOs to report on their use of funds and 

other assets received from both foreign and local sources. Repeated failure on the part of a PA or an NCO to 

provide the information required in a timely fashion is grounds for the registration authority to bring a claim 

in court requesting a ruling that the organization terminate its activities as a legal entity, which then leads to 

its exclusion from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities. More recently, new electronic reporting forms 

for NCOs, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, have substantially simplified the reporting process. 

Articles 29 and 38 of the Law on Public Associations and Article 32 of the NCO Law authorize governmental 

registration authorities to engage in highly intrusive means of scrutiny of public associations and NCOs 

without appropriate procedural protections. The registration authority may use the following tools to 

interfere in the internal operations of a PA or NCO: 

The power to summon resolutions of the organization’s governing body. The registration authority has 

the ability to demand documents dealing with the details of an organization’s governance, including 

day-to-day policy decisions, supervision of the organization’s management, and oversight of its 

finances. 

The power to send representatives to an organization’s events. The Law allows the government to send 

a representative to all of an organization's events, without restriction, including internal strategy 

sessions and grant selection meetings, for example. 

The power to review the extent to which an organization’s activities comply with its statutory goals, 

including review of its expenditures and property management. The registration authority has authority 

to review the compliance of organizations with their goals – even though the registration authority itself 

lacks expertise needed to judge whether particular activities are designed to meet an organization’s 

goals. 

Article 23 of the NCO Law also provides the registration authority with two additional intrusive supervisory 

powers over the branches, representative offices, and affiliates of foreign NGOs. The government can issue a 

written decision banning the implementation of any existing program of a branch office of a foreign NGO. 

The Law does not provide any guidance with respect to the grounds on which the government may make this 

decision, which appear to be entirely discretionary. Upon receipt of a decision, the office of the foreign NGO 

must terminate the activity, and if it fails to do so, it risks exclusion from the register and liquidation of the 

office. The Law also allows the registration authority to issue a written decision banning the transfer by an 

foreign NGO’s branch, representative office, or affiliate of funds or other resources to particular recipients for 

the purposes of protecting the basis of the Constitutional system, morality, health, rights and lawful interests 

of other persons, and with the aim of defending the country and the state security. The Law does provide 

foreign NGOs the right to appeal against actions taken against them by the government. 

Barriers to Speech / Advocacy 

Neither the Civil Code nor the NCO Law limits the ability of NCOs to engage in advocacy or political activities. 

All forms of public associations may participate in advocacy and lobbying activities. Under the law, NCOs 

generally may also engage in election campaigns for federal and local elections, subject to federal election 

laws (Article 27, Law on Public Associations). 

A potential obstacle to advocacy activity springs from the general requirement that NGO activities must be in 

compliance with its by-laws (i.e., if government auditors discover that activities were not outlined in its bylaws, 

an NGO will be subject to penalties). In addition, there are a range of other regulatory acts (not 

specifically targeting NGOs), including criminal and administrative penalty codes, which can be applied against 

human rights and/or advocacy groups. 

Charities are expressly prohibited from using their assets to support political parties, movements, and 

campaigns (Article 2(2), Charities Law). In addition, religious organizations, governmental and municipal 

institutions, international public associations, and international movements are prohibited from making 

donations to candidates (Article 58 (6), Federal Law No. 19-FZ "On RF President elections," January 10, 2003, 

and Article 66 (7), Federal Law No. 175-FZ "On RF State Duma deputies elections," July 20, 2002, as 

amended). However, these prohibitions do not appear to extend to involvement in lobbying or other 

politically-related activities. 

In June 2012, increases to existing fines for violating rules on participation in and organization of public



protests were enacted. These fines will likely have a deterrent effect on the right to peaceful assembly. Fines 

for breaching provisions on holding public assemblies were increased by 150 times for individuals and 300 

times for organizations. The new maximum penalty for participation in a protest that is not in accordance 

with government regulations is up to 300,000 rubles (approximately $9,000) for individuals and up to one 

million rubles (approximately $32,000) for organizations. 

In July 2012, libel was reintroduced as a criminal offence in Russia. The law was likely enacted to inhibit 

media criticism of Russia's leaders since media outlets can be fined up to two million rubles (approximately 

$61,000) for producing libelous public statements. 

Also in July 2012, changes introduced to the Law on "Information, Information Technologies and Information 

Protection"mandated the creation of a registry of websites that contain information which has been prohibited 

by a court order. Once a website is placed on this registry it can then be shut down without a court order. 

Government officials could interpret the law in a way that would increase Internet censorship and curb the 

freedom of expression of organizations that hold views that are different from the government’s or the 

majority’s views. 

Barriers to International Contact 

There are no legal barriers to international communication and contact. 

Barriers to Resources 

Foreign Funding 

Russia enacted the law Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation 

Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Function of Foreign 

Agents, which will come into effect in November 2012. The law will require all non-commercial organizations 

(NCOs) to register with a specially authorized governmental body prior to receipt of funding from any foreign 

sources if they intend to conduct “political activities.” In an attempt to stigmatize these NCOs, they will now 

be labeled "NCOs carrying functions of a foreign agent." 

Another formidable legal barrier against foreign funding relates to the giving of tax-exempt grants. Foreign 

or international organizations wishing to make tax-exempt grants to Russian citizens or NCOs must be on a 

list of organizations approved by the Russian Government. Such grants may be made only for purposes 

specified by Russian Tax Code: for the implementation of specific programs in the sphere of education, art, 

culture, health care (AIDS, drug addiction, children oncology, including oncohematology, children 

endocrinology, hepatitis, tuberculosis) environmental protection, protection of human and civil rights, social 

services of the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of citizens, as well as for holding specific scientific 

research. 

In June of 2008, the Russian Government adopted Decree #485, regarding the Government’s pre-approved 

list of foreign grantors (hereinafter referred to as the “List”). Decree #485 contained a reduced number of 

approved international organizations and made clear that as of January 1, 2009, only international 

organizations mentioned in the Decree could remain on the List. Grants from foreign organizations not 

included on the List are considered taxable income for Russian recipients, unless they otherwise qualify as 

donations under Russian law. (The current regulation is applicable only to grants; donations, including those 

from foreign organizations to non-commercial organizations are tax exempt.) 

On March 24, 2009, Prime Minister Putin signed Decree #252, amending Decree #485. Decree #485 

empowered the Ministry of Finance to make changes and additions to the List. Decree #252 instead 

authorizes interested ministries – and not solely the Ministry of Finance – to initiate changes and additions to 

the List. 

In addition, NCOs must provide information regarding donations obtained from foreign organizations to the 

Ministry of Justice. 

Domestic Funding 

An NCO may engage in economic activities to the extent they advance the purposes for which the 

organization was created, but may not pursue the generation of profit as its primary purpose (Article 50(3), 

Civil Code, Articles 2 and 24(2), NCO Law, Article 37, Law on Public Associations, and Article 12, Charities 

Law). Profit from the economic activities of NCOs, including charities, is generally taxed in the same manner 

as for commercial organizations. Lower tax rates may be offered by regional or local authorities for 

qualifying NCOs. Registration as a charity does not affect or limit the right of an NCO to engage in economic 

activities (Article 12, Charities Law). 

In July 2011, the Russian Parliament adopted amendments to the Russian Tax Code that substantially improve 

the taxation of NCOs. For example, NCOs no longer have to pay profit tax or value added tax (VAT) on the 

value of in-kind contributions (services or property rights) they receive. Moreover, the amendments extend



VAT exemptions previously applied to state budget funded institutions providing social services (i.e. in the 

areas of culture, art, health care, education, and services to the needy) to NGOs providing the same services. 

Reports 

UN Universal Periodic Review Reports 

National Report 

Compilation of UN Information 

Corrigendum 

Summary of Stakeholders' Information 

Questions submitted in advance 

Report of the Working Group 

Decision on the Outcome 

Reports of UN Special Rapporteurs No relevant reports available 

USIG (United States International 

Grantmaking) Country Notes 

U.S. State Department 

Russian Federation Country Information current as of 

February 2011 

Advancing Freedom and Democracy Report 2010: Russia 

2010 Human Rights Report: Russia 

Failed States Index Reports 2012 Foreign Policy Failed States Index 

IMF Country Reports 

Asia Pacific Philanthropy Forum 

Reports 

NGO Regulation Network Reports 

CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) 

Country Reports 

Concluding Statement of 2009 Article IV Consultation 

Mission: Russian Federation 

IMF Russian Federation: Selected Issues Paper, 2011 

Not available 

Not available 

Not available 

International Commission of Jurists Not available 

International Center for Not-for-Profit 

Law Online Library 

News and Additional Resources 

Russia 

Back to Top 

Back to Top 

While we aim to maintain information that is as current as possible, we realize that situations can rapidly 

change. If you are aware of any additional information or inaccuracies on this page, please keep us 

informed; write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org. 

General News 

Transparency International refuses to comply with NGO law (November 2012) 

The Moscow office of the anti-corruption coalition Transparency International has issued a statement 

announcing its refusal to comply with the recently passed law on foreign agents. “By agreeing to the status of 

foreign agent, any organization effectively admits that it is pursuing the interests of a foreign state, or a 

foreign or international organization, rather than working for the benefit of its own country – Russia,” the 

statement reads. “We do not believe that efforts to achieve our organization’s main objective – to fight 

corruption – damage, or even fail to benefit, our country.” 

Putin suggests some flexibility on anti-dissent laws (November 2012) 

Vladimir Putin said he was ready to reconsider the law on high treason, which human rights campaigners say 

could mean that any Russian citizen who had contacts with a foreigner could be accused of trying to 

undermine the state. Putin also offered to rephrase wording in another bill that envisages stiffer punishments 

for defamation, and said parliament should not rush to adopt a law that would introduce jail sentences for 

offending religious feelings. He also said he would "look again" at legislation signed in July that requires



foreign-funded non-governmental organisations to register as "foreign agents", saying its main aim was to 

prevent foreign meddling in Russia's domestic affairs. 

Another law in blatant violation of basic international human rights standards (October 2012) 

On October 23, 2012, the Russian Duma (the lower chamber of Parliament) adopted a series of amendments 

to the law on treason and espionage, introducing new provisions into the Criminal Code. The new version of 

the law is now expected to be examined by the Council of Federation of the Russian Federation (the upper 

chamber) and, if adopted, to be signed by President Vladimir Putin. The new text expands the definition of 

treason to “providing financial, technical, advisory and other assistance to a foreign State or international 

organisation (…) directed at harming Russia’s security”, criminalising de facto any contact with any foreign 

entity by an extremely elevated and disproportionate sanction up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The vague terms 

used open the path to discretionary interpretations by the authorities, raising further concerns on how the 

law will be enforced. 

Russia's upper house approves law on fines for foreign agents (October 2012) 

The Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, approved a law imposing administrative fines for 

violating the provisions on the foreign agent status for non-profit organizations. The corresponding 

amendments have been introduced to the Code of Administrative Offenses. The amendments to the code 

served as an integral part of the draft law assigning a foreign agent status to Russian NGOs financed from 

abroad and involved in politics. 

Russia's NGO Law will inevitably result in a contraction of space and opportunity for NGOs (October 2012) 

Boris Pustyntsev, Director of the Russia-based Citizens' Watch, speaks to CIVICUS about the impact of the new 

'NGO Law' and recent restrictions on civil society activism in Russia. 

Rights group says its researcher in Moscow is threatened (October 2012) 

A researcher in Human Rights Watch’s office in Moscow received repeated threats this week of an attack 

focused on her pregnancy, the rights group said, calling it the latest example of escalating pressure against 

rights and civic groups in Russia. 

Russia's troublesome "traditional values" resolution (October 2012) 

Article 19 urges the UN Human Rights Council members to reject a draft resolution proposed by Russia on 

“traditional values” as the concept may be abused to legitimize discrimination against minority groups, to 

silence dissent, and violate human rights. Increasing dialogue on the role of traditional values in society and 

raising understanding of the many different values held by people is positive where done within a framework 

of respect for human rights. However, the draft resolution fails to recognize that traditional values are not 

always invoked positively and have often been abused to legitimize discrimination against marginalized and 

minority groups, to silence dissent, and violate people’s human rights. 

USAID shutdown in Russia will hurt civil society (September 2012) 

The United States says it will comply with Russia’s request to end all programs of the U.S. Agency for 

International Development (USAID), which the U.S. describes as “regrettable.” Experts believe that the action 

will hurt Russian NGOs that deal with democracy and human rights. 

Kremlin evicts USAID from Russia in blow to ‘reset’ (September 2012) 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is ending pro-democracy and civil society programs in 

Russia at the insistence of the Kremlin, according to reports from U.S. officials close to the situation. 

Russia demands USAID halt work (September 2012) 

The Kremlin sounded its stiffest rebuke to U.S. democracy-building efforts in Russia since the fall of the 

Soviet Union, ordering the U.S. to halt the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Russia by 

Oct. 1. Since 1992, USAID has distributed $2.7 billion for projects in Russia ranging from election monitoring 

and prisoners' rights to tuberculosis prevention and education for the handicapped. It had planned to spend 

$50 million in Russia in 2012, more than half of it on democracy and civic programs—a shift from funding in 

the 1990s, which had focused more on economic development. 

European Parliament concerned over worsening civil society climate in Russia (September 2012) 

The human rights situation in Russia has deteriorated drastically in the last few months, with the adoption of 

a series of laws that could be used to further restrict opposition and hinder freedom of expression, the 

European Parliament stated in a resolution. A press release said MEPs were gravely concerned about "the 

deteriorating climate" for the development of civil society in Russia, pointing to the recent legislation on 

demonstrations, NGOs, defamation, and the Internet. 

Russian regional administration forbids employees contact with ‘foreign agents’ as new NGO law gains 

traction (September 2012) 

The Administration of the Mari El Region 850 kilometers east of Moscow has issued a directive to its officials



to refrain from participating in social or political activities organized by foreign nongovernmental 

organizations or Russian NGOs receiving funding from foreign sources. 

Human-rights organizations to boycott new law on NGOs (September 2012) 

Two of Russia’s oldest human-rights organizations have announced their intention to boycott a law on 

“foreign agents.” Duma deputies have said that non-compliance with the new federal law could result in the 

forcible closure of organizations. 

Russian rights groups taking ‘multi-step’ approach against NGO law (September 2012) 

Russian civil society groups are developing a diverse range of strategies in response to a new law classifying 

non-government organizations as “foreign agents.” 

Beyond text, few parallels between new Russian and existing U.S. CSO laws (August 2012) 

On August 14th, the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a lecture called “Understanding and Responding to 

Attacks on Civil Society: The Rule of Politics and Law.” Panelist Carl Gershman, President of the National 

Endowment for Democracy, qualified new Russian legislation as an “attack” on the freedom of Civil Society 

Organizations (CSOs). The UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai and the International Center for Not-for-Profit 

Law's Nilda Bullain also spoke on the panel. 

Clinton affirms Russian human rights activists are not U.S. agents (August 2012) 

Moscow Helsinki Group leader Ludmila Alexeyeva and Movement For Human Rights Director Lev Ponomarev 

have received from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton an answer to the question they posed to President 

Barack Obama relating to the foreign-agent status of US-funded Russian NGOs. Clinton stated clearly that the 

United States does not control their activities, nor does the US have any wish to do so. 

"A kind of Soviet flavor": Putin taking lessons from Lukashenko? (August 2012) 

The Pussy Riot case “reveals as much about the nature of Russian politics as it does about Russia‘s problems 

with foreign policy and its image abroad,” says a leading opposition activist. Activists suggest Russia is 

learning from Belarus, not the other way around. 

Assembling to promote a positive attitude proscribed (August 2012) 

In Saint Petersburg, activists were promoting a positive attitude by wearing funny vintage costumes, sharing 

chocolates and standing in the subway with signs greeting people saying "Good morning, Good day." 

However, police warned them that this activity is subject to the law on mass gatherings. It seems that almost 

any public gathering can be an unauthorized assembly in Russia today. 

Two years in prison for Pussy Riot (August 2012) 

In a sign of the current state of the Kremlin’s thinking, a two-year prison term is perhaps a compromise. In a 

packed courtroom in Moscow, with hundreds of protestors in the street outside, Judge Marina Syrova read out 

the verdict in the case against three women—Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Ekaterina 

Samutsevich—from the punk-art collective Pussy Riot: they were guilty of hooliganism inspired by religious 

hatred and sentenced to two years each in a Russian prison colony. 

Russia needs Human Rights Ombudsmen in every region – Putin (August 2012) 

Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded the independence of his country’s Human Rights Ombudsmen, and 

suggested making the post obligatory for every region of the Russian Federation. 

Russia’s law on volunteering can be adopted in autumn (August 2012) 

A law on volunteering may be adopted in Russia this autumn, the deputy speaker of the Federation Council, 

Yuri Vorobyev, said. “Possibly, this law can be adopted in autumn. Different public organizations, including 

the Public Chamber, are drafting this law,” he told Itar-Tass. 

NGO law affects Russia's civil society (August 2012) 

Hundreds of Russian civil society organizations will not receive foreign grants anymore because of new 

restrictions placed on them, despite the fact they depend on such funding to survive. Some organizations 

have decided to try to focus on domestic funding. 

Blogger and leader of protest movement Aleksei Navalny charged with embezzlement after labeling an official 

a “foreign agent” (August 2012) 

Russian prosecutors charged the blogger and anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny with embezzlement, a 

statute that carries a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, the Kremlin’s most direct measure to date against 

a leader of the protest movement that erupted in December. Mr. Navalny said he believed the case had been 

revived in the wake of an unexpectedly large demonstration on May 6, on the eve of Mr. Putin’s inauguration. 

One week prior to his arrest, he accused Russia’s chief federal investigator, Aleksandr I. Bastrykin, of secretly 

owning real estate and other investments in the Czech Republic. Mimicking accusations against NGOs, 

Navalny referred to the official as a “foreign agent.”



New amendments on volunteering to be developed (July 2012) 

The draft Law on Volunteers, prepared by the Public Chamber with participation of the ICNL Moscow Office, 

will not be adopted. The draft was considered controversial by some CSOs and rendered much discussion. 

One of the CSOs’ arguments was that the draft could result in more burdensome administrative procedures 

and delays in the implementation of activities. This was substantiated by examples from the town of Krymsk 

that recently suffered from flooding. The town attracted hundreds if not thousands of volunteers who were 

distributing aid to the local people. As a compromise, new amendments on volunteering will be incorporated 

into the Law on Public Associations and the Tax code to ensure the NGOs’ right to involve volunteers in their 

activities and to prevent taxation on the reimbursement of volunteering related expenses. 

Details of "Foreign Agents" Law (July 2012) 

President Putin signed a high-profile bill that will relegate politically active NGOs receiving funding from 

abroad to a registry of “foreign agents.” Once registered, these NGOs will face heightened scrutiny. They will 

be required to file regular disclosures with the government and to label all materials disseminated through 

major channels with their “foreign agent” status. Responding to critics, Duma legislator and bill co-sponsor 

Alexander Sidyakin pointed to the similarities between the law and the Foreign Agents Registration Act 

(FARA), a similarly worded US statute. 

"Foreign Agents" Law modeled after US law, says Putin (July 2012) 

President Putin says that by adopting the law labeling foreign-funded nonprofits involved in politics ‘foreign 

agents’, Russia, just like the US, wants to protect itself from external influence. The Russian leader sees 

nothing wrong in requiring organizations that get funding from other countries to be registered as foreign 

agents. “If foreigners pay for political activity, apparently they are expecting to get some result from that,” he 

noted at an annual pro-Kremlin youth forum. “This rule applies only to organizations that are involved in 

politics and get financing from abroad,” he stressed.“I believe that in Russia we can have a law similar to that 

adopted in the United States back in 1938. Why have they protected themselves this way from external 

influence and have been using this law for decades? Why can we not do the same in Russia?” Putin pointed 

out. 

Russians Support Recent Laws Restricting Freedoms - Poll (July 2012) 

Russians generally support a number of recently passed laws that impose restrictions on the freedoms of 

speech and assembly and on access to information, according to a poll released Thursday by the Levada 

Center. 

Russian rights activists refuse to comply with NGO law (July 2012) 

Russia’s two largest human rights organizations will not comply with the law that labels them as "foreign 

agents,” the NGOs’ heads said just hours after President Vladimir Putin signed the controversial new NGO bill. 

Putin signed on Saturday a law forcing non-government organizations engaged in political activities with 

foreign financing to be branded as "foreign agents." 

Drive to give legal status to volunteers (July 2012) 

As volunteerism soars to new highs with the recent Krasnodar region flooding, policymakers are hammering 

out the country's first bill that would give legal status to volunteers. A draft of the bill says volunteers would 

be obliged to sign cooperation agreements with organizations, according to a copy published by State Duma 

Deputy Ilya Ponomaryov of “A Just Russia” on his blog. 

The Internet law: A good bad example of Russia's backsliding (July 2012) 

Duma Bill 89417 is a proposed Internet statute that, among other provisions, would create a blacklist of 

websites that all Russians Internet service providers (ISPs) would have to block and refuse to host. The bill 

was hurried through the legislature in one week. (The defamation bill was approved in the Duma's third and 

final reading; jail terms were eliminated from an earlier draft, but fines were allowed reaching as high as 5 

million rubles or about US$153,000). Both bills now await President Vladimir Putin's signature. 

Russian parliament approves restrictions on foreign-funded NGOs (July 2012) 

Russia’s lower house of parliament passed a bill imposing new restrictions on non-governmental 

organizations that receive funding from abroad. Although the bill, which is almost certain to pass the upper 

house and be signed into law by the president, does not prohibit any organization from operating, it is likely 

to create a chilling effect on CSO activities. It reflects the suspicion of the West and the fear of rising 

opposition sentiment held by President Vladimir Putin and his backers in the governing United Russia party. 

Secretary of State Clinton discusses “disturbing” Russian NGO Law in CoD Governing Council remarks (July 

2012) 

In her Remarks at the Community of Democracies Governing Council, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton 

stated that “the new legislation being passed in the Russian Duma not only goes after foreign NGOs and 

funding from foreign NGOs, but goes after local, national NGOs and civil society, which is really a great



disturbance to the brilliance and the creativity of the Russian people, who have so much to contribute.” She 

said she thinks “the Community of Democracies needs to speak out, because whenever a reporter is silenced 

or an activist threatened or a civil society organization shut down, it really weakens the social fabric of a 

nation. 

EU High Representative “highly concerned” about amendments to Russia’s NGO law (July 2012) 

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security 

Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued a statement on July 10 saying that Ms. Ashton is “highly 

concerned by amendments to the Russian NGO law that were adopted … against the advice of the Russian 

President’s Council on Human Rights and the Development of Civil Society.” The statement notes that these 

amendments would force Russian NGOs that receive foreign funding “to present themselves as ‘foreign 

agents’ in all their activities” and that this “cannot be compared to any legislation or practice existing in the 

EU or the US.” According to the statement, “The adoption of this NGO law comes amidst several developments 

that limit the space for a vibrant civil society in Russia, such as the arrests of opposition figures as well as a 

new law that stipulates excessive fines for administrative violations during authorised demonstrations.” 

PACE Rapporteur Slams Russian Slander Bill As 'Invitation to Punish' Kremlin Critics (July 2012) 

A prominent member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has criticized a move by 

the Russian State Duma to reintroduce slander as a criminal offense. Switzerland's Andreas Gross said the 

new legislation joins a group of harsh new restrictions on everything from Internet use to foreign funding for 

nongovernmental organizations that have been whisked through the Russian parliament in the early weeks of 

Vladimir Putin's second presidency. 

Russia's Ruling Party Seeks ‘Foreign Agent’ Media Bill (July 2012) 

Ruling United Russia party lawmakers are planning to put some media outlets on the list of “specially 

monitored” organizations, the Izvestia daily reported. 

UN human rights experts warn of potential damage by Russia’s draft law to civil society (July 2012) 

A group of United Nations independent experts today warned that a draft law being considered by Russia 

could adversely impact civil society and urged on the Government not to adopt this legislation. “These 

amendments constitute a direct affront to those wishing to freely exercise their right to freedom of 

association,” the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina 

Kiai, said in a news release. 

Parties Ask Russian Constitutional Court To Review Demonstrations Law (July 2012) 

Two Russian political parties have appealed to the Constitutional Court to rule on the legality of a recently 

adopted law mandating heavy fines for organizing or participating in unsanctioned demonstrations. More 

than 100 lawmakers from the A Just Russia and Communist parties signed the appeal, which argues that the 

massive increase in fines and the introduction of mandatory public-service sentences for some violations are 

unconstitutional. 

Looking for Foreign Agents in All the Wrong Places (July 2012) 

For more than a year, the Kremlin has been promising that there would be a "symmetric response" to the U.S. 

Magnitsky act. The problem, though, was that a strictly symmetric response would require freezing the 

Russian-based assets of U.S. government officials who are implicated in human rights abuses. Since few 

would qualify for this blacklist, the Kremlin resorted to an asymmetric response — a United Russia proposal 

to amend the law regulating nongovernmental organizations. 

NGO laws indicate Putin’s strategic failure, political frailty (July 2012) 

Russia’s lower house of parliament today passed a bill imposing new restrictions on foreign-funded nongovernmental 

organizations. The regulations are reminiscent of Soviet secret police methods, the head of the 

Council of Europe said yesterday. “Although the bill, which is almost certain to pass the upper house and be 

signed into law by the president, does not prohibit any organization’s operation, it is likely to create a chilling 

effect on groups’ activities,” reports suggest. 

Russia's Internet blacklist looms in freedom crackdown (July 2012) 

The United States had SOPA, and Britain has the Digital Economy Act. China is -- well, in a league of its own. 

Russia is next on the list of developed nations pushing for widespread website blocking and censorship 

capabilities in the wake of an online uprising prior to the inauguration of Russian president Vladimir Putin. 

Thousands of protesters took to the streets, set up blogs, and disseminated demands for a fresh ballot over 

social networks following claims of rigged votes and electoral corruption in the recent presidential elections. 

Transparency International calls on Russia to reject draconian amendments to laws governing NGOs (July 

2012) 

Transparency International calls on the Russian parliament to reject the proposed amendments to the law 

governing non-governmental organizations. The new regulations, if passed, would severely limit civil



society’s ability to hold governments to account and would misrepresent what non-governmental 

organizations do. “Singling out organizations that work on legitimate public issues, such as access to 

information, the rule of law and whistle-blower protection, and labeling them “agents of foreign influence” is 

completely wrong and sends an ominous message to the people of Russia who took to the streets more than 

20 years ago to fight for their freedoms,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International. 

Putin signs draconian law restricting freedom of assembly (June 2012) 

The Russian State Duma voted in favor of a bill to increase the fees for unsanctioned meetings one hundred 

and fifty-fold. The legislature’s upper house signed the bill after which President Putin signed it into law. 

Supporters of the law argue that it is an attempt to bring Russian legislation in compliance with European 

standards. In a letter to the Financial Times, for example, Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov wrote that in 

introducing the law the Russian government is “striving for legislation that is comparable to the regulation of 

political protests in the west” and is “inspired by the European example.” 

New Russian bill aims to brand NGOs as 'foreign agents' (June 2012) 

Nongovernmental organizations operating in Russia on grants from abroad could soon be officially branded 

as "foreign agents." Under a new bill submitted to the State Duma by deputies from the ruling United Russia 

party, the requirement would apply to foreign-funded NGOs deemed to be engaged in political activities. "I've 

prepared a draft law on introducing amendments to the NGO law. We'll submit it soon," Aleksandr Sidyakin, 

one of the bill's authors, wrote on Twitter. "Prepare your cash, foreign agents! :)" 

Parliament to label externally-funded NGOs as foreign agents (June 2012) 

The Russian State Duma is pondering legislative amendments that would rename all NGOs that receive 

funding from abroad into ‘foreign agents’ with obligatory mentioning of this status in all media reports. The 

suggested legislative changes would require that all NGOs registered within Russia but receiving money or 

property from foreign sources, state and private alike, be considered “foreign agents” once they get involved 

in political activities, one of the amendments’ initiators, United Russia State Duma deputy Aleksander 

Sidyakin, said. 

Law on rallies awaits Putin’s signature (June 2012) 

Following 12 hours of tense debate, Russia's State Duma has adopted amendments to the law on rallies, 

slapping harsher penalties on participants and organizers alike. 

Putin signs law with new restrictions on peaceful assembly (June 2012) 

President Putin signed into law the new restrictive amendments to the law on public rallies and the 

administrative code, which had been adopted by the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament on June 5 and 

endorsed by the upper chamber on June 6. President Putin dismissed the concerns of numerous Russian and 

international human rights groups and told the news media that the new law was to protect Russian nationals 

from radicalism. He said that the law imposed no more restrictions on freedom of assembly than is permitted 

under prevailing European norms. 

Russian President Putin defends Russia’s human rights record after EU meeting (June 2012) 

Under pressure from the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday defended his country’s human 

rights record, claiming that Russia has no political prisoners and dismissing criticism of a draconian bill that 

increases fines for unsanctioned street rallies. 

Russia's civil society 'beats authorities' in tackling corruption (May 2012) 

Russia's civil society has made a dramatic leap forward over the past three years and is doing much more to 

curb corruption than the authorities. Yelena Panfilova, a prominent, outgoing member of the presidential 

anti-corruption and human rights council, said on Wednesday. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor meets civil society 

advocates from Russia (April 2012) 

Thomas O. Melia, who serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights 

and Labor, welcomed to the State Department a dozen inspiring civil society advocates from Russia. He noted 

that civil society is an essential driver of progress and accountability on an array of important issues, 

including prison reform. Over the past year, Russian civil society advocates, including some of the activists 

who took part in the meeting, have been working to prevent another tragedy like that of Sergei Magnitsky, 

who dies from abuse and neglect in a Moscow pre-trial detention center. 

Freedom of speech concerns arise as protest singers face seven-year jail sentences (April 2012) 

A court rejected calls to free imprisoned members of a feminist punk band that performed a protest song 

against Vladimir Putin inside Moscow's main cathedral. Three members of Pussy Riot had their detention 

extended until June 24 in a case that has provoked disputes over freedom of speech and the close 

relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin. They face jail sentences of seven years if 

convicted of hooliganism for the "punk prayer" against Mr. Putin sung from the pulpit of Christ the Saviour


© 2012 International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) Site Map | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use 


Cathedral, in Moscow on February 21. 

Nonviolent protests in Russia: About the elections or also for the future? (March 2012) 

Only two years ago, civil protests would have been of marginal interest to most Russians. Citizens would not 

even dare cross a boulevard carrying banners in their numb hands. The author of this article - a young, 

independent writer – discusses the change in Russians’ mentality about civil protest and shares her views on 

the structure of the protest movement. 

International NGOs urge authorities of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia to take measures to protect journalists 

(January 2012) 

The international human rights organizations Article 19 and International Media Support (IMS) have called on 

the authorities of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia to take every legal and political measure needed to protect 

journalists and defend the right to freedom of expression in these countries. "We recommend establishing 

effective cooperation between human rights organizations and journalist organizations for the provision of 

mutual support," Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer at Article 19 Oliver Spencer said at the 

presentation of the recommendations to the report "No Justice for Journalists in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia" 

in Kyiv on Monday. 

News archive 

Why Russia’s democrats need West’s support (October 2011) 

Government to increase support for NGOs - Medvedev (September 2011) 

Arkhangelsk NGOs adapting to Russian reality (September 2011) 

Russian court makes foreign donations to NGOs tax free (September 2011) 

The Rebirth of Russian Civil Society (July 2011) 

Medvedev urges development of endowment funds (June 2011) 

Putin's Russia could face revolt - whistleblower (June 2011) 

European Court Rebukes Law on Parties (April 2011) 

U.N. says Russian efforts on human rights fall short (February 2011) 

The foregoing information was collected by the ICNL NGO Law Monitor partner organization in Russia. 

Back to Top

Russia - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?