Russians will be prohibited from working in NGOs that are not registered in Russia

In the first reading, the State Duma of Russia adopted three draft laws introducing administrative and criminal liability for participation in the activities of foreign or international non-governmental organizations not entered in a special register. This is reported by TASS.

The draft laws provide for fines for cooperation with NGOs not entered in the relevant register. Entry into this register presupposes control over the organization’s activities by the authorities. Such organizations include, for example, Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International.

In the event of a repeated offense, criminal liability arises. Criminal responsibility begins with the first violation, if the “offender” was tried under the articles on evading the duties of an “innocent agent” and carrying out the activities of an undesirable organization.

Amendments to the Administrative Code provide for fines of up to five thousand rubles for citizens and up to 50 thousand rubles and the possibility of deportation for stateless persons and foreign citizens. Officials face a fine of up to 50,000 rubles, legal entities – up to 100,000 rubles.

Amendments to the Criminal Code provide up to three years of imprisonment.

• The day before, the State Duma of Russia adopted in the first reading two draft laws concerning third parties that “contribute to the violation of Russian legislation by a foreign agent”. The first bill proposes issuing warnings to persons who facilitate violations of Russian laws by “foreign agents”. The second imposes fines in those cases when the warning did not work.
• It is not known who the authorities will consider “third parties” because the wording is vague. Everything can fall under it, from family members of “foreign agents” to employers or followers on social networks.