New "undesirables"

The State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill allowing to recognize foreign non-governmental organizations as “undesirable” for interfering in elections

“If an international or foreign non-governmental organization violates the ban and tries to influence the choice of our citizens, it is recognized as undesirable and must immediately stop its activities,” said State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, noting that this is an initiative of all political factions.

Interference in Russian elections will be considered the activity of a foreign organization that “promotes or hinders the nomination of candidates, lists of candidates, the election of registered candidates, the initiative to hold a referendum and the conduct of a referendum, the achievement of a certain result in elections, a referendum, and also in other forms (with the exception of participation in election campaigns, referendum campaigns as foreign (international) observers)," the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament says.

“This measure will prevent attempts of foreign interference in the electoral processes in the Russian Federation and the exercise of the electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation and the right to participate in a referendum,” the explanatory note to the document emphasizes.

The Law on Undesirable Organizations allows the activities of a foreign or international non-governmental organization to be declared "undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation". undesirable can be recognized as According to the document, an organization that "poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the country's defense capability or the security of the state" . Accounts and property of such an organization in Russia are blocked, branches and affiliates are closed, dissemination of informational materials, including through the media, is prohibited. A ban is introduced on the implementation in the Russian Federation of programs or projects of an undesirable organization and restrictions on the entry into Russia of persons participating in its activities, as well as on their right to establish Russian non-profit, public and religious organizations. Violation of the law is punishable by a fine, and if the violation occurs more than twice a year, then imprisonment from two to six years.