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Amnesty International says Moscow’s ‘Patriotic Stoplist’ spells the end for civil society in Russia
The international human rights organization Amnesty International has declared Moscow’s “Patriotic Stoplist” to mark the end of free expression and civil society in Russia.
John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s director of Europe and Central Asia, says Russia’s new law against “undesirable organizations” has one purpose: “preventing people from doing legitimate work that the Russian authorities simply don’t like.” According to Dalhuisen, there’s no need for such a law, insofar as nonprofit organizations are already under the strict control of the authorities.
“The criteria by which the Russian authorities will identify ‘undesirable’ organizations is poorly formed, arbitrary, and vague,” Dalhuisen added.
- On July 8, Russia’s Federation Council approved and sent to the Attorney General’s Office the so-called “Patriotic Stoplist,” a list of organizations that senators believe must be reviewed under the country’s new law against “undesirable organizations.” The stoplist includes 12 organizations, including George Soros’ philanthropic foundation, Freedom House, the MacArthur Foundation, the Ukrainian World Congress, the Crimean Field Mission for Human Rights, and others.
- President Vladimir Putin enacted the law against “undesirable organizations” on May 23, 2015. According to the law, foreign and international organizations can be declared “undesirable” or “a threat to Russia’s basic constitutional order.” The Attorney General’s Office has the power to declare an organization undesirable without judicial oversight. If an organization falls under this category, it will be forced to shut down and will be forbidden from holding public events and from possessing or distributing promotional materials, including through the media. Employees of “undesirables” face criminal liability, if they fail to comply with orders, and the heads of such organizations can face prison sentences of up to 6 years.