Russia bans 'undesirable' international organisations ahead of 2016 elections

[Little Tich]

Source: The Guardian

Human rights groups fear law, which could cover businesses as well as NGOs, is being adopted early to quash opposition to Kremlin

Russia’s parliament has passed a law banning “undesirable” international organisations, raising fears of a further crackdown on voices critical of the Kremlin.

According to the legislation, the prosecutor general and foreign ministry can register as undesirable any “foreign or international organisation that presents a threat to the defensive capabilities or security of the state, to the public order, or to the health of the population”.

Blacklisted groups will be forbidden from operating branches or distributing information in Russia and banks will have to notify the prosecutor general and justice ministry of any financial transfers involving them. Although the language of the threat posed was vague, the bill’s authors suggested that international NGOs often work in the interests of foreign intelligence agencies.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/19/russia-bans-undesirable-international-organisations-2016-elections

[davidpdx]

1. NGOs take a lot of risks going into countries where they are clearly not wanted by the government

If Russia is going to do this, I think the NGOs should ban together and all pull out of the country. They are making the claim that many NGOs are not helping people. Let them prove that when the NGOs leave.

I have to wonder in addition to banning certain NGOs them if the law also allows the government to jail NGO workers indefinitely.