NPOs flee from Russia

The consequences of the "anti -magnetic" law

The "anti -magnetic" bill forced non -profit organizations to emigrate

On the night of November 21, unknown people left the inscription "Foreign Agent" on the building "Memorial" in Small Karetny Lane

Before the New Year, the Russian representative office of the International Republican Institute (IRI) urgently evacuated his office. According to the source of The New Times, close to IRI, in an unofficial conversation, employees of the Russian intelligence services made it clear that the organization could become the first participant in the high -profile case of foreign agents or state receptions. “NPOs have already been threatened to close. Now, for the execution of threats, there are all legislative mechanisms: wherever it is - an article is found, a careless phrase may be a reason for a criminal case, ”the source says.

The last straw was the bill approved by the State Duma “On measures to influence persons involved in the violation of the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation” - the response of Russian deputies to the Act of Magnitsky. Its third chapter directly prohibits the activities of NPOs funded by the United States, and the participation of persons with double Russian-American citizenship in NGOs.

IRI problems began after the adoption of laws on NPOs - foreign agents and GOSTIN. First, their partners were closed by USAID, then a friendly IRI organization left - the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The international NPO Irex, engaged in educational projects, left Russia, the American MSI was closed, which had a human rights regional project “I have the right”.

Now four employees remained at the International Republican Institute: all young women with children. Abroad, they have already found a temporary office.

“The law has the concept of“ political activity ”, but it is not clarified, and this wording itself is non -nonsense, since the public organization cannot be engaged in political activity by definition,” the head of the Voili Shibanova association commented on The New Times. The “Voice” falls under the “anti -Magnitic law”: the organization is partially funded from the United States and intends to continue to receive American grants.

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Employees of the Russian special services made it clear that IRI could become the first participant in the high -profile case of foreign agents or state

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“Deputies can name the amendment on NGOs introduced in the“ anti -Magic law ”by my name. I am the only one among the heads of Russian NPOs who has dual citizenship, ”said Lyudmila Alekseeva, the head of the Moscow Helsinki group,” said The New Times. According to the new law, the MHG can take away the office on Petrovka: Alekseeva acquired it for prizes, which the United States allocated to her and the group personally.

The “memorial”, the international youth human rights movement, the “image of the future” are financed with American money. It is not clear how the founder of the Helsinki movement Yuri Orlov and one of the directors of Human Rights Watch Dietrich Lokhman, who are US citizens, will continue to work. Do not fall under the law of Transparency International and Agora. He tries to abandon foreign financing the movement “For Human Rights”, his head Lev Ponomarev told The New Times that he received money from the Public Chamber as part of two presidential grants. “The question only worries: are they really how they gave out a grant, they will close me?” - Surprising Ponomarev.

Legislative initiatives for NPOs are already felt in the regions. The coordinator of the Ryazan Voice, Sofya Ivanova, said that the tax inspectorate asked her strange questions, for example: “Were contracts for round tables, shares and rallies?” The Altai organization "Voise" reduces the programs for teaching observers in the elections. The coordinator of the organization Sergei Andreev told The New Times: "After we were recorded in foreign agents, partners are afraid to work with us."

Photo: ITAR TASS