Russian undesirable organizations law

• 1. The 2015 Legislative Spark

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  President Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law N 129-FZ on the 23rd of May 2015. This legislation followed earlier measures like the 2012 Russian foreign agent law and the Dima Yakovlev Law. Prosecutors gained new powers to label foreign groups as threats to Russia's constitutional order or state security. The initial idea was to expand restrictions onto foreign noncommercial organizations. Economic sanctions against Russia prompted lawmakers to add economic aspects to the bill. On the 25th of May 2015, an MP from the LDPR party sent a list of proposed NGOs to the Prosecutor-General's office. That list included the Carnegie Moscow Center and Memorial.

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• 2. Prosecutorial Powers And Penalties

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  Russian prosecutors can declare any organization undesirable without going to court first. Violators face fines or prison terms of up to six years for failing to disband after notice. Individuals cooperating with these entities risk fines and entry bans into Russia. Russians maintaining ties to listed groups also face penalties ranging from monetary fines to maximum six-year sentences. All banks must refuse cooperation with designated groups and report attempts to use them. The Office of the Prosecutor General announced that the National Endowment for Democracy posed a threat to defense potential in July 2015. The decision cited donations to election monitors and undefined political activities as violations.

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• 3. The Expanding Blacklist Timeline

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  By 2024, the Ministry of Justice declared 318 overseas organizations undesirable in Russia. Most affected groups are based in Germany, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In November 2015, two branches of George Soros' charity network were banned under this law. The MacArthur Foundation closed its Russian division after being added to the recommended list in July 2015. Ahead of the March 2018 presidential election, two European election monitoring bodies received designations. On the 23rd of July 2024, the State Duma adopted a new expansion allowing foreign government agencies themselves to be labeled undesirable. This move broadened the scope beyond traditional non-governmental organizations to include state-linked entities.

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• 4. International Condemnation And Criticism

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  Russia's human rights ombudsperson Ella Pamfilova stated the power contradicts the Russian constitution. She condemned the lack of a right to appeal for designated groups. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesperson called the law an attempt to discredit civil society critics. Britain's Minister for Europe David Lidington described it as harassment of NGOs working with Russians. The US State Department expressed deep concern that the law restricts independent voices. Amnesty International warned the bill would squeeze life from civil society. Human Rights Watch noted locals would suffer most from these restrictions. Veteran activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva called it another step toward lowering the curtain between Russia and the West.

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• 5. The Venice Commission Review

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  On the 13th of June 2016, the Venice Commission published its opinion on this legislation. They found vague definitions of key concepts like non-governmental organizations. The commission highlighted wide discretion granted to the Office of the Public Prosecutor. Lack of specific judicial guarantees contradicted the principle of legality according to their conclusion. Automatic blanket prohibitions on organizing mass actions were deemed unacceptable except in extreme cases. The European Convention on Human Rights requires interference to respond to pressing social needs. Inclusion on the list should follow clear criteria after a judicial decision or allow appropriate appeals.

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• 6. Silencing Dissent And Media

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  Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, authorities escalated use of both laws. The government blocked activities of media, human rights, and civil society organizations based in the western world. Anastasia Shevchenko became the first person convicted for participation in an undesirable organization. Pickets formed in support of her conviction as a symbol of resistance. Organizations like Memorial and Human Rights Watch faced shutdowns starting from 2015 through current times. Over three hundred groups now face bans including occupied territories of Ukraine. The law isolates Russian civil society from international partners and blocks independent journalism operations.

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