Russian Presidential Council for Human Rights slams law on “foreign agents”

(Interfax – Moscow, July 7, 2015)

The Russian Presidential Council for Human Rights insists on the immediate cancellation of the Justice Ministry decision to include Dynasty [Dinastiya] and Liberal Mission foundations in the list of NGOs that are foreign agents and review of the law on NGOs.

“Since the first days of the existence of this very approximate and therefore legally invalid law on the so-called ‘foreign agents’ our council has been fighting for it to be rectified,” says the statement posted on the council’s website on Tuesday [7 July].

However, in the view of rights activists, “changes are minimal and the register has exceeded 60 (listings – Interfax), including dozens of human rights, environmental and other socially orientated NGOs”.

“The current example (the inclusion of Dynasty and Liberal Mission foundations in the list NGOs that are foreign agents – Interfax) of demonstratively absurd application of law is testing our patience. We insist on Russian Justice Minister Aleksandr Konovalov cancelling the ruling by his deputy (on including the foundations in the registry – Interfax),” the press release said.

“If this is not done, we think it necessary to achieve its cancellation through the courts. The infamous law should be either immediately amended or deemed to be null and void. There is no third option,” the statement said.