MOSCOW, December 23 (RIA Novosti) - The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, passed a bill on non-government organizations in Russia in the third and final reading.
The document was supported by 357 Duma members, 20 voted against and seven abstained. The bill stipulates registration procedures for public non-profit organizations and outlines requirements for their state registration. However, when the law has come into force, existing NGOs will not have to be re-registered, but new branches and representations of foreign NGOs will have to obtain registration from a single federal registration body.
Foreign NGOs' branches in Russia will also have to report on their programs, the amount on their financing and the organizations they plan to deal with in Russia.
Under the final version of the law, the public organizations that will not act as legal entities in Russia will not have to notify authorities of their activities.
The final version does not oblige the registration body to exercise financial control over NGOs.
The bill also allows NGOs to appeal against the decision on their closure in the court of law, as well as in the Justice Ministry, the government and other instances.
The bill stipulates restrictions on foreign NGOs' activities in classified Russian territories.
However, foreigners and stateless individuals legally staying in Russia can found or be members of NGOs. Foreigners or stateless persons whose presence in Russia was found unwelcome and those included in a list of persons involved in money laundering or financing terrorist organizations are not allowed membership and top positions in the organizations.
The law is expected to come into force in 90 days, in which time the State Duma expects the government will have prepared the necessary documents.
