The EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed concern on Tuesday that amendments to Russian NGO law may limit the space for a vibrant civil society in the country, RAPSI news agency reported..
The Russian parliament adopted in the first reading last week a bill branding non-profit organizations receiving funds from abroad and engaged in political activity as “foreign agents.” The draft law, proposed by United Russia, provoked protests from many NGOs.
“This bill cannot be compared to any legislation or practice existing in the EU or the US,” Ashton said in a statement.
Ashton also expressed concerns about Russia's recent arrests of opposition activists, a new law stipulating “excessive” fines for administrative violations during authorized rallies, and attempts to limit certain types of online content, possibly infringing on freedom of expression.
