Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russian Lawmakers Pass Bill On Curbing NGOs


Protesters against the NGO bill in front of the State Duma on 23 December (RFE/RL) 27 December 2005 -- Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, today approved a controversial bill that curbs the activities of nongovernmental organizations operating in Russia.


The bill was passed in a vote of 153 to one with one abstention. Parliament's lower house, the State Duma, approved the law last week. The bill needs to be signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to become law.


Russia's leading rights groups today said that some requirements in the new bill do not comply with international law.


NGOs say the law will make their work in Russia very difficult. The United States and the European Union say the law undermines democracy.


Sergei Lebedev, the chief of Russia's foreign intelligence service, says that foreign spies have been using humanitarian groups and NGOs as cover in Russia.


(AFP/AP/Interfax)

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG