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Case Opened Against Russian Vote Monitor Golos


Activists hold placards outside Golos's offices during a protest against the organization in Moscow on April 5.
Activists hold placards outside Golos's offices during a protest against the organization in Moscow on April 5.
Russia says it has opened a legal case against the vote-monitoring group Golos.

The Justice Ministry accused Golos and its executive director of being engaged in political activity in Russia and receiving foreign funding but failing to declare itself as a "foreign agent."

Golos denied that it received any foreign funding in the period under consideration.

The move comes after a recent wave of much-criticized state inspections of Russia's nongovernmental organizations.

Under a law passed last year, NGOs operating in Russia are required to officially register as “foreign agents” if they receive financing from abroad.

Failure to do so carries a potential fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,000) for the organization and 300,000 rubles (about $9,500) for its executive director.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP

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

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