A Russian Orthodox Church Website
Orthodox Christianity and the World
http://www.pravmir.com
Orthodox Church concerned about anti-foreign NGOs bill
Photo by Kadria Agzamova, RIA Novosti
Foreign-funded Russian NGOs involved in political activities must register as foreign agents. Since the
Orthodox Church receives funds from its foreign dioceses, it is concerned it might come under closer
scrutiny. Failure to register could mean fines and up to four years in jail.
Moscow (AsiaNews) – The Russian Orthodox Church could be affected by a controversial bill that
requires foreign-funded NGOs involved in “political” activities to register as “foreign agents” or risk hefty
fines and imprisonment, this according to Mikhail Fedotov, head of Russia’s Presidential Council on
Human Rights. The latter is currently vetting the draft law, set to be introduced in the Duma (Russian
parliament) next Thursday, but which could become law as early as this fall.
According to the bill, Russian NGOs that engage in political activities, act for foreign powers or foreign
donors, or receive foreign funds must be register as “foreign agents,” display the label “foreign agent” on
their website and publications and subject themselves to closer government scrutiny. If an NGO fails to
register within 90 days of the law’s coming into force, members could face four-year prison terms and
300,000 ruble (US$ 9,300) fines.
“The proposed legislation is too wide in reach,” Kremlin human rights chief Mikhail Fedotov told Russian
news agencies. “The law could even concern the Russian Orthodox Church, as the law relates to any noncommercial organization that receives funds from foreign citizens,” he noted. “And, of course, the
Orthodox Church receives donations from abroad.”
NGOs now fear a government crackdown. For the Kremlin, they have always been a destabilising factor in
Russia.
United Russia Deputy Alexander Sidyakin, who drafted the bill, the goal is to prevent foreign governments
from interfering in Russian domestic affairs. He insists that his bill is inspired by international practice,
citing the United States.
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A Russian Orthodox Church Website
Orthodox Christianity and the World
http://www.pravmir.com
The bill has Kremlin support, the Vedomosti newspaper wrote. In December, when protests broke out
following allegations of fraud in the presidential election, then Prime Minister and frontrunner Vladimir
Putin accused US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of instigating unrest.
Civil society groups, from WWF to Golos, a vote-monitoring organisation, have warned that the draft law
would violate “democratic standards.”
For Human Rights Watch, the measures are “clearly excessive and unnecessary,” pointing out that all
Russian NGOs already publish financial reports, as required by Russian law.
Elena Panfilova, of Transparency International Russia, calls the bill “psychological terrorism”. In her view,
“they want to breathe down our neck, but we are used to it and have nothing to hide. Our work will go
ahead without foreign funds if need be.”
Source: AsiaNews
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