Russia moves to shut down 'undesirable' foreign organizations

The Russian parliament gave preliminary approval Friday to legislation that would allow prosecutors to declare foreign and international organizations "undesirable" in Russia and shut them down.

The step appeared to be part of a campaign to stifle civil society and dissent in Russia that intensified when President Vladimir Putin began his third term in 2012.

Russian suspicions of Western intentions have been further heightened because of tensions over the conflict in Ukraine.

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Laws passed in recent years already have led to increased pressure on Russian non-governmental organizations, particularly those that receive foreign funding. Hundreds of NGOs have been subject to raids and inspections, ostensibly to check their compliance with laws banning extremism or requiring organizations that receive funding from outside Russia and engage in political activity to register as foreign agents. Such a label carries connotations of spying.

Rights activists fear crackdown

The latest measure would allow prosecutors to declare an organization undesirable if it presented "a threat to the foundation of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the defence capability of the country or the security of the state."

Rights activists fear that it could be used to extend the crackdown to Russian branches of international groups like Transparency International, Amnesty International and Greenpeace.

If declared undesirable in Russia, an organization would have to close its operations and stop disseminating information through the news media and internet. If it defied the designation and continued to operate, the heads of the organization could be fined or sent to prison.

Parliament's lower house passed the bill in the crucial second reading Friday with a vote of 442 to 3. It must still pass a third reading, be approved by the upper house and signed into law by Putin.

CFLI could support goodwill programming for the socially disadvantaged (e.g. pensioners and orphans) but could also support non-governmental organizations working for democracy in eastern Ukraine."