The Human Rights House Foundation, Norwegian P.E.N. as well as the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have requested minister of foreign affairs to protest against the bill to tighten control on Russia’s civil society. The law would dramatically restrain Russia’s civil society. They fear the law is aimed at human rights NGOs that are criticizing the government policy in the Chechen Republic. The international support is very important for the civil society, the director of Russian Research Center, Liubov Vinogradova says. (20-DEC-05)
 
After massive international pressure the second hearing of the law has been postponed from the 9th to the 21st of December. Several Russian human rights organisations participated in a protest actions against the controversial bill in Moscow the 19th of December. Tomorrow the Russian Duma will for the second time deal with the draft of the law that will dramatically restrain Russia’s civil society. The draft law would obstruct the functioning on both Russian and international civil society groups severely.

Tool of repression
The Human Rights House Foundation and Norwegian P.E.N. ask Støre in a letter to indicate that the bill should be withdrawn. They say Norway should ask president Vladimir Putin to veto the bill, in case it passes the Duma. One of their concerns is the effects the bill will have on Russian human rights organisations: “Human Rights House Foundation and Norwegian P.E.N. fear the law could be used as a tool to repress critical and active organisations. Especially human rights organisations like ‘Soldiers Mothers’ and ‘Memorial’, which gather information and are critical with regard to the conflict in the Chechen Republic, will fall victim.”

Fear re-registration
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Bellona Foundation also fear the law is aimed at human rights NGOs that are criticizing the government policy in the Chechen Republic. They also point at the consequences the law would have on international NGOs: “The representative offices of international NGO’s, foundations, groups providing social services and others, would have to re-register as purely Russian membership organisations with headquarters in the Russian Federation or face liquidation. Furthermore the law would impose restrictions on the ability of Russian NGOs to receive foreign donations or hire foreigners to their offices. Only citizens of the Russian federation or non-citizens with a permanent residence permit will be allowed to represent the organisation.”

International Pressure
The Council of Europe has issued an opinion on the draft legislation, which in principle acquiesces to the right to regulate NGOs by the Russian authorities but expresses strong concern about its restrictive nature. Freedom House has in cooperation with a number of key US NGOs been engaged with the US State Department to raise concerns with the law.U.S. The 14th of December  a joint letter signed by ten senators was sent to several key members of the Russian Federation Council and to President Putin.

Appeal from the Public Chamber
The emerging Public Chamber issued a fresh appeal on Sunday to the State Duma to put off a controversial draft law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) until the Chamber completes its formation. Pubic Chamber continues to insist that the passage of this draft law be postponed until January, when the Public Chamber is formed completely and makes a study of this document,” Yelena Zelinskaya, a member of the Chamber and vice president of Mediasoyuz, told Interfax.

To read to whole letter of the Human Rights House Foundation and Norwegian P.E.N. click  here.

To read the letter of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Bellona Foundation click here