Russia - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL

Russia - NGO Law Monitor - Research Center - ICNL
http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/russia.html[11/15/2012 2:02:58 PM]
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