11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Authorities subjected some NGOs to lengthy investigations of their finances or delayed registration of their foreign financed programs; 2006 NGO law introduced strict oversight of NGOs by Federal Registration Service (FRS) ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22617]

For information on cases, please see the report.

"The finances of registered organizations are subject to investigation by the tax authorities, and foreign grants must be registered. Authorities subjected some NGOs to lengthy investigations of their finances or delayed the registration of their foreign financed programs. Some NGOs said that these actions were intended to restrict their activities. For smaller NGOs without the organizational capacity to respond to tax investigations, such investigations had a more crippling effect on operations. In several cases authorities seemed to selectively apply these tax requirements to threaten organizations with possible closure.

In July the St. Petersburg branch of the Federal Registration Service (FRS) issued warnings and began liquidation procedures against three NGOs that had legally accepted foreign funding and promoted issues such as human rights, democracy, the environment, and immigrant rights. The FRS later rescinded the warnings against two of them, but continued its case against the Center for Educational and Research Programs, which it accused of tax evasion and interfering with Russian government agencies. The Center advises other NGOs in northwest Russia how to comply with the 2006 amendments to the NGO law.

The 2006 NGO law introduced strict oversight of NGOs by the FRS, part of the Ministry of Justice. The law, which went into effect in April 2006, imposed more stringent registration requirements for NGOs, particularly the branch offices of foreign NGOs, strict monitoring of organizations, extensive reporting requirements on programming and activities, and some limitations on the participation of foreign citizens. (…) The government at times applied restrictions in a discriminatory manner. (…)

In July 2006 the government amended the law "On Countering Extremism," increasing concerns among many that the amendments may restrict freedom of association and legitimate criticism of the government. In July the government enacted additional amendments that expanded the definition of extremism. Critics feared that even the threat of application of the law could have a chilling effect on NGOS and associations. (..)"

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Official harassment of domestic and international human rights groups continued, and operating environment for these groups was restricted ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22627]

For information on cases, please see the report.

"Domestic and international human rights groups operated in the country, investigating and publicly commenting on human rights problems, but official harassment continued, and the operating environment for these groups was restricted. Authorities increasingly harassed many NGOs that focused on politically sensitive areas, and other official actions and statements indicated a low level of tolerance for unfettered NGO activity, particularly for NGOs that received foreign funding and reported on human rights violations. NGOs operating in the Northern Caucasus were severely restricted. (…)

In 2006 the government enacted legislation that strictly regulates NGOs and requires them to register with the Federal Registration Service. The law has more stringent registration requirements for local affiliates of foreign NGOs than for domestic NGOs, but requires all NGOs to file extensive reports on their structure, activities, leadership, and finances. The law provides intrusive means for government officials to scrutinize NGOs, including "public associations," but provides the NGOs with only limited procedural protections. The law grants the Federal Registration Service discretion to deny registration or to request that the courts close organizations based on vague and subjective criteria. (…)

Observers believed the government applied the NGO law to target some human rights organizations, such as cases opened against several NGOs in St. Petersburg that could result in their closure. The July 2006 amendments to the law on extremism have been used to restrict activities of political parties, the media, NGOs, and some criticism of the government. The revised law expands the definition of extremist activity to include public libel of a government official or his family, as well as public statements that could be construed as justifying or excusing terrorism."

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Registration Service in 2007 demanded liquidation of several NGOs for failure to provide timely activity reports; in June 2007 court ordered liquidation of Youth Human Rights Movement (YHRM) ("World Report 2008") [ID 22465]

"The government is tightening controls over civil society through new legislation, interference with peaceful assembly, and harassment of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and government critics.

The 2006 NGO law increased government oversight and restrictions on NGOs. It requires NGOs to submit regular activity reports or face liquidation, and allows intrusive and punitive inspections that often result in warnings for minor, technical violations. Two warnings lead to liquidation even if the organization corrects the violation.

The Registration Service demanded the liquidation of several NGOs for failure to provide timely activity reports. For example, in June 2007 a court in Nizhni Novgorod ordered the liquidation of the Youth Human Rights Movement (YHRM) for this failure, even though the organization submitted the reports as prescribed by law. The YHRM is appealing the liquidation. (...)

In April police conducted an 11-hour search of the Educated Media Foundation (EMF) in Moscow, a prominent media training organization, seizing all financial documents and computers. (...)

Similarly, in August Federal Security Service agents searched the Nizhni Novgorod Center for Assistance to Migrants in connection with criminal charges of document forgery against the center’s head. Agents confiscated financial documents, computer equipment, and archives, paralyzing the center’s work."

Document(s): Open document

09.07.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Human rights groups working on sensitive topics are particularly vulnerable to harassment by authorities; International Protection Center (IPC) has faced a series of measures obstructing its work ("Human Rights Defenders at Risk") [ID 20656]

"Human rights groups working on sensitive topics, such issues related to the conflict in Chechnya, are particularly vulnerable to harassment by authorities. The Russian-Chechen Friendship Society was closed down in January 2007 and its former staff members have received new threats because of their continued human rights engagement, and the International Protection Center (IPC) has faced a series of measures obstructing its work.
 • The IPC, which has brought numerous cases of human rights violations in Chechnya to the European Court of Human Rights, was accused of unlawfully taking advantage of tax exemption provisions and ordered to pay huge back taxes and fines in July 2006. The case is still ongoing and the organization has been subjected to various administrative inspections in the past year. Moreover, its founder, Karinna Moskalenko, has been threatened by disbarment twice, most recently in April 2007 when the Russian prosecutor general made a request to this end, alleging that she had violated her professional duties. Following an investigation, the Moscow Bar Association eventually rejected this request in late June 2007."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

New legislation on NGOs clearly shows that the state has little interest in promoting freedom of assembly among Russian citizens; Russia's rating for civil society deteriorates from 5.00 to 5.25 ("Nations in Transit 2007") [ID 20444]

"Russia launched 2006 with a new law placing onerous new reporting requirements on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The first to be affected were foreign organizations working in Russia, which had to devote extensive resources to meeting the requirements of the law. Signaling the limits for domestic groups, the authorities shut down the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society in October. As the state cracks down, Russian society is producing a growing wave of xenophobia and intolerance, with deadly conflict in Kondopoga and a multiethnic Moscow market indicating the most virulent expressions of the underlying tensions.

The new legislation on NGOs clearly shows that the state has little interest in promoting freedom of assembly among Russian citizens, creating instead a climate of fear and intimidation that bodes ill for the future: As a result, Russia’s rating for civil society deteriorates from 5.00 to 5.25. "

Document(s): Open document

23.04.2007 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

NGO that promoted the development of independent media forced to suspend its activity after police search ("Successor of Internews Russia suspends activity after police search") [ID 19683]

Document(s): Open document

27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Human rights activists were subjected to growing pressure and faced, inter alia, threats, defamation, arbitrary tax controls, arrests or interrogations; Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS) was closed after decision of regional court, Supreme Court rejected appeal in January 2007 ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19377]

"Human rights activists were subjected to growing pressure. They faced, inter alia, threats, defamation in state and state-controlled media, arbitrary tax controls and other administrative inspections, arrests and interrogations, searches of their homes and offices, politically motivated charges and abuse. The situation was most critical for human rights defenders working in the North Caucasus, as well as groups based elsewhere that addressed issues relating to the so-called anti-terrorism activities conducted in this region. Among these groups was the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS).

In February 2006, Stanislav Dmitrivsky, the director of the RCFS was found guilty of “inciting hatred or enmity on the basis of ethnicity and religion” and given a two year suspended prison sentence. The charges against him were brought after the RCFS published appeals by the late Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov and his envoy, Akhmed Zakayev, for a peaceful resolution of the Chechen conflict. The sentence was subsequently upheld on appeal.Applying the new NGO law, the Regional Court of Nizhny Novgorod ordered in October that the RCFS be closed down on a number of grounds, including the failure of Dmitrivsky to resign from his positions within the RCFS despite his conviction for an “extremist” crime and the failure of the RCFS to publicly denounce Dmitrivsky after his conviction. The RCSF appealed the decision to the Russian Supreme Court, which rejected it on 23 January 2007."

Document(s): Open document

14.03.2007 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Human rights defenders fighting neofascism and extreme right-wing movements, and defending minorities’ rights continue to pay the price for their involvement against background of increasing xenophobia and racist attacks ("2006 Annual Report of the Observatory") [ID 19456]

"In the Russian Federation, human rights defenders fighting neofascism and extreme right-wing movements, and defending minorities’ rights continued to pay the price for their involvement against a background of increasing xenophobia and racist attacks throughout the country. For example,Mr. Samba Lampsar, a student and an active member of the NGO African Unity, was murdered in Saint-Petersburg on April 7, 2006, as he was returning home after an inter-cultural friendship meeting between Russians and foreigners. Similarly, Mr. Tigran Babadzhanian, a young anti-fascist activist, was targeted by an assassination attempt on December 22, 2006. He discovered on the wall of his house a poster covered with Nazi symbols and stating that “all the persons living in this house [were] niggers”. Mr. Babadzhanian immediately called the police, who arrived shortly after with a dog that rushed towards the poster, thus triggering the detonator of a bomb planted behind. The dog was killed, and two officers were wounded. Although an investigation was opened into this attack, Mr. Babadzhanian was only heard as a witness for the injuries sustained by the two officers. Many activists were also subjected to death threats by neo-Nazi groups. In particular, a list of 89 people deemed as “traitors to the Nation” or “friends of foreigners” was posted on the website of an ultra-nationalist group in August and September 2006, giving the addresses and personal details of these people and calling for their physical elimination. In addition, judicial authorities in the country repeatedly evidenced their reluctance to investigate these threats, thus allowing perpetrators of such violence to enjoy a high level of impunity. (...)"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

14.03.2007 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Committee Against Torture (CAT) concerned about harassment and murder of journalists and human rights defenders and new legislation governing activities of NGOs ("2006 Annual Report of the Observatory") [ID 19461]

For more detailed information and informationen on specific cases please see the report

"During its 37th session, held from November 6 to 24, 2006, the Committee Against Torture (CAT) examined the fourth Periodic Report of the Russian Federation and expressed its concern about the harassment and the murders of journalists and human rights defenders, including the recent murder of Ms. Anna Politkovskaya, who was writing a report on torture in Chechnya at the time of her assassination. The CAT also expressed its concern over the entry into force on April 17, 2006 of the new legislation governing the activities of noncommercial organisations, which widens the powers of the State to interfere in the activities of NGOs. As a result, the CAT urged the State-Party to “take effective steps to ensure that all persons monitoring and reporting acts of torture or ill-treatment are protected from intimidation (…) and ensure the prompt, impartial and effective investigation and punishment of such acts”. The CAT also requested that interference by the State in NGO activities, in the context of the new Law on NGOs, be limited and as a result that the law be amended to ensure its conformity with international human rights standards, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

NGOs, activists and independent journalists working on human rights issues, particularly the war in Chechnya, faced increasing administrative and judicial harassment; in some cases individuals endured persecution, threats and physical attacks ("World Report 2007") [ID 19488]

"Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), activists, and independent journalists working on human rights issues, particularly the war in Chechnya, faced increasing administrative and judicial harassment. In some cases, these individuals also endured persecution, threats, and physical attacks. In October 2006 an unidentified gunman murdered Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaia. Known for her independent reporting, particularly about abuses committed in the war in Chechnya, Politkovskaia was a fierce critic of the Kremlin and the pro-Russian Chechen government. There seemed little doubt she was killed because of her work. Also, there was a rise in the number of death threats against prominent human rights defenders. In November 2005 authorities in Dagestan held Osman Boliev—a human rights defender who investigated kidnapping and other abuses by police—for three months on charges of illegal weapons possession. He was tortured in custody and later acquitted and released. In July 2006 police charged him with aiding the terrorists who seized hundreds of hostages in a Moscow theater in 2002. Fearing for his safety, Boliev fled Russia. (…) Several Russian human rights organizations were threatened with—but avoided— closure for problems with their charter or failing to report their activities. But the International Defense Assistance Center, a Russian group that represents people from Russia at the ECHR received a bill for back taxes and penalties on tax exempt grants for US$167,000. Under the tax code, money for educational, analytical, and research purposes is not taxable and the tax bill appears to be an attempt to shut down the NGO, which has 250 cases pending before the ECHR."

Document(s): Open document

07.12.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Trend of increased state control of civil society organizations exacerbated by new NGO legislation in late 2005 and problematic provisions to anti-extremism law adopted in July 2006 ("Human Rights Defenders at Risk in Belarus, Russia and Uzbekistan") [ID 17822]

"In the last few years, state control over the registration and funding of independent civil society organisations has been stepped up, resulting in obstructions of the activities of such groups. This trend was further exacerbated by the adoption in late 2005 of new NGO legislation, which entered into force in April 2006. (...)   In another development, new problematic provisions to the 2002 anti-extremism law were adopted in July 2006. The amendments provided, inter alia, that not only “calls for” but also ”justifications” of extremist activity are to be prohibited.This gave rise to particular concern since the definition of “extremism” included in the law is broad and ambiguously worded and may be interpreted to cover legitimate human rights activities, such as criticism of official policies. In recent years, there have been several cases in which the anti-extremism legislation has been used against outspoken civil society activists and groups. For example, in February 2006, the NGO Memorial was warned by the Moscow city prosecutor that it may be liquidated on grounds of “extremism” unless it removed from its website an expert assessment of materials of the Hizb-ut-Tahrir movement, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the Russian government. Memorial complied with the warning to avoid closure."

Document(s): Open document

24.10.2006 - Source: ReliefWeb

77 foreign NGOs operating in Russia forced to suspend activities after government rejected registration applications; government officials reportedly claim that they failed to submit applications on time, or uncompleted ("Civil society in danger: 77 NGOs suspended in Russia") [ID 17523]

"Under a controversial NGO law adopted earlier this year, criticised by CIVICUS and other local and international groups, all foreign NGOs in Russia were supposed to re-register by last Wednesday. According to reports, 185 organisations submitted registration applications to the Justice Ministry's Federal Registration Service, but only 108 were granted registration. Seventy-seven reportedly remain under review, including many critical of the government such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. (...)"

Document(s): Open document

16.10.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Article on registration process for foreign NGOs, in which numerous documents have to be submitted; many NGO leaders caution that new NGO law may be used by government to crack down on foreign groups whose activities it disapproves of ("Foreign NGOs Rush To Beat Registration Deadline") [ID 17507]

Document(s): Open document

13.10.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Human rights group "Russian-Chechen Friendship Society" (RCFS) closed; RCFS publishes online newspaper, regarded as one of few reliable sources of news on Chechnya ("CPJ fears silencing of critical Web site on Chechnya") [ID 17526]

Document(s): Open document

18.09.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Son of lawyer representing Uzbek and Kyrgyz refugees found dead in Ivanovo; circumstances of death unclear ("Son Of Russian Lawyer For Andijon Refugees Found Dead") [ID 16941]

Document(s): Open document

30.06.2006 - Source: Guardian

Russian authorities have refused to grant legal status to 40 foreign non-governmental organisations under new legislation that requires re-registration by October 18. ("Russia rejects 40 foreign NGOs") [ID 15398]

"Russian authorities have refused to grant legal status to 40 foreign non-governmental organisations which submitted paperwork to the justice ministry under stringent new legislation that requires them to re-register by October 18. Some western NGOs have said the new law will force their closure. Alexander Zhyafrov, who heads the ministry's section handling political, religious and civil groups, said his officials began re-registering foreign NGOs after the law came into effect on April 18. He said 40 NGOs had handed in documents but were told to work on them further. His office declined to comment further. (…)"

Document(s): Open document

22.06.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Daghestan: Re-instigation of criminal case against well-known human rights defender Osman Boliev, less than a month after he was acquitted of previous charges ("Joint Open Letter to Prosecutor of the Republic of Dagestan Regarding the Case of Human Rights Defender Osman Boliev") [ID 15406]

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Several attacks on human rights activists in 2005 ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)") [ID 15629]

"In 2005, several human rights activists died after being attacked by unidentified perpetrators.On 21 July, human rights activist Lyudmila Zhorovlya and her son Konstantin were shot by unknown people in their home in the city of Vorkuta in the Komi Republic. Zhorovlya and her colleagues had provided legal assistance to Vorkuta residents with respect to illegal increases in utility payments required by local authorities. The mayor of Vorkuta had reportedly criticized her work on repeated occasions and she had received numerous threats and demands to stop her activities. At the end of the year, there was no further information about the investigation into the case.
On 13 November, unknown men violently attacked two anti-fascist activists in St. Petersburg. One of the activists, Timur Kacharav, died as a result of numerous stab wounds and the other one, Maxim Zgibai, suffered serious injuries. No information about the investigation into the case was available at the end of 2005."

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Public Chamber established in March 2005 upon Putin’s proposal in order to analyse draft legislation and oversee parliamentary work; critics view attempt to control civil society ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)") [ID 15630]

"In March 2005, the parliament decided to establish a so-called public chamber upon proposal by President Putin. The new institution was charged with analyzing draft legislation and overseeing the work of the parliament as well as federal and regional authorities, but it was granted only consultative powers. Out of its 126 members, one third was to be appointed by the president, another third to be nominated by civil society organizations and the remaining third to be elected by the first two thirds. The creation of the public chamber was criticized by human rights activists, who feared that it represented an attempt to control the country’s civil society and to mute criticism of the increasingly authoritative policies of the federal executive."

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

New NGO-law, which entered into force April 2006, provides for stricter registration procedures for NGOs and gives state power to close them down ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)") [ID 15643]

"The new law, which entered into force as of April 2006, provides for stricter registration procedures for foreign and domestic NGOs and gives the state the power to close them down. It prescribes that offices of foreign NGOs must inform the government registration office about their projects for the upcoming year, and about the money allotted for every specific project. Officials from the registration office can ban foreign NGOs from implementing projects with “the aim of defending the constitutional system, morals, public health, rights and lawful interest of other people, guaranteeing defense capacity and security of the state.” This means in practice that the law vests Russian government officials with a high level of discretion in deciding what projects, or even parts of NGO projects, comply with Russia’s national interests. The government’s powers, however, are not stipulated by clear legal provisions and thus leave room for arbitrary interference into the activities of NGOs. Many provisions were found by Council of Europe experts to be “disproportionate.”The MHG considered the new law a serious attack on NGOs, the last civil society sector to enjoy relative independence from the state."

Document(s): Open document

29.03.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Report on situation of human rights NGOs (legal background, practices, recommendations) ("The Assault on Human Rights Defenders in the Russian Federation, Belarus and Uzbekistan: Restrictive Legislation and Bad Practices") [#48254], [ID 11556]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Human rights advocates and journalists arrested for expressing views critical of the government ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11557]

"Some regional and local authorities continued to use provisions of the code to arrest persons for expressing views critical of the government. Human rights advocates in some regions were charged with libel, contempt of court, or interference in judicial procedures in cases with distinct political overtones. Journalists, among others, have been charged with other offenses and held either in excess of normal periods of detention or for offenses that do not require detention at all."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

State Duma passed controversial NGO legislation; concerns that it would hinder the work of NGOs and the continued development of civil society ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11559]

"A number of senior officials made critical statements during the year that contributed to, and reflected, increased suspicion of NGO activity. For example, at a July 20 meeting of the Presidential Council on Promoting the Development of Institutions of Civil Society and Human Rights, President Putin stated that he objected to foreign financing of "political activity" in Russia. On May 12, FSB Director Nikolay Patrushev said that foreign NGOs were often used for espionage. In his May 2004 State of the Nation address, President Putin charged that some foreign-funded NGOs existed "to serve dubious groups."

On November 23, the State Duma passed an initial version of controversial NGO legislation. Elements of the legislation raised concerns that it would hinder the work of NGOs and the continued development of civil society in Russia. The final version of the legislation that was passed by the State Duma on December 23 and the Federation Council on December 27 contained a number of changes from the original version of the legislation. However, many international and domestic NGOs did not believe that the amended legislation fully addressed the concerns that were raised by them and foreign governments. At year's end President Putin had not signed the legislation."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Official harassment of NGOs increased ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11560]

"Although a number of domestic and international human rights groups operated in the country, investigating and publicly commenting on human rights problems, official harassment of NGOs increased. Authorities harassed some NGOs that focused on politically sensitive areas during the year, and other official actions and statements indicated a declining level of tolerance for unfettered NGO activity, particularly for those NGOs that received foreign funding. NGOs operating in the Northern Caucasus were at times hampered, although these organizations had wider access than in the past.
The NGO sector in Russia consisted of an estimated 450 thousand registered public associations and non-governmental non-commercial organizations. Experts estimated that 25 percent of them operated on a regular basis. There were several dozen large NGO umbrella organizations as well as thousands of small grassroots NGOs. There was often a large gap between these two categories of NGOs in terms of their organizational capacity. In the regions, NGO coalitions continued to advocate on such issues as the rights of the disabled and of entrepreneurs, environmental degradation, violations by law enforcement authorities, and the war in Chechnya."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Authorities filed criminal charges, tax claims, and a civil suit against the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS) in what human rights NGOs said was a campaign to close the organization ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11561]

"Authorities filed criminal charges, tax claims, and a civil suit against the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS) in what human rights NGOs said was a campaign to close the organization. On January 11, criminal proceedings were initiated against its Pravozaschita newspaper for publishing the statements of Chechen separatist leaders. On January 20, officers from the FSB raided the RCFS's office in Nizhniy Novgorod, seizing documents and computers. Authorities questioned several members of its staff in Nizhniy Novgorod and Chechnya. RCFS executive director Stanislav Dmitrievskiy was charged with inciting hatred or enmity on the basis of ethnicity and religion. The charge carries a maximum of five years imprisonment. In March tax inspectors began an audit of RCFS finances, which concluded that the group owed more than $35 thousand (1 million rubles) in back taxes for grants it received from foreign donors. On August 26, tax inspectors froze its bank accounts following the RCFS's unsuccessful appeal. On September 15, a judge in Nizhniy Novgorod ordered the accounts to be reopened pending a decision in the group's suit against the tax authorities. In November authorities denied entry into the country of human rights expert William Bowring, who intended to observe Dmitrievskiy's trial. The criminal trial and tax case were continuing at year's end.

Additionally, the MOJ filed a civil suit against the RCFS for failure to provide requested documents. This MOJ request for documents was made simultaneously with an audit by tax authorities, with ministry and tax officials demanding the same sets of original documents. In November a judge ruled in favor of RCFS in the suit brought by the MOJ, upholding the organization's registration. RCFS coeditor Oksana Chelysheva was also personally threatened in leaflets distributed near her home because of her work with RCFS. Authorities opened a criminal case, but no suspects have been identified.

In June authorities ordered the closure of the Nizhniy Novgorod Human Rights Society, a partner organization of the RCFS, on the grounds that it did not submit necessary documentation of its activities to the MOJ."

Document(s): Open document

03.03.2006 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Saint Petersburg: Report on attacks on human rights defenders (assaults on the increase; absence of official reaction; perpetrators de facto enjoy almost total impunity) ("Russian Federation: Mission Report: Attacks on human rights defenders in Saint Petersburg: Russian authorities guilty of negligence") [#45710], [ID 11562]

Document(s): Open document

13.02.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Report on the situation of human rights defenders (restrictive legislation and bad practices ("The Assault on Human Rights Defenders in the Russian Federation and Belarus: Restrictive Legislation and Bad Practices") [#44218], [ID 11563]

Document(s): Open document

03.02.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Stanislav Dmitrievskii, Executive Director of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society and editor-in-chief of the Pravo-zashchita newspaper, convicted to 2 years suspended for publishing non-violent articles by Chechen separatist leaders ("Amnesty International calls for guilty verdict against Stanislav Dmitrievskii to be overturned [EUR 46/006/2006]") [#43489], [ID 11564]

Document(s): Open document

30.01.2006 - Source: Prima News

Federal Registration Service seeks to close down Human Rights Research Centre; lack of information that would allow to continue to operate claimed ("Federal Registration Service seeks to close down Russian Human Rights Research Centre") [#43228], [ID 11567]

Document(s): Open document

25.01.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Attempt to implicate the Moscow Helsinki Group in alleged British espionage appears to be part of a general assault on civil society and human rights organizations, according to IHF ("IHF Protests the Smear Campaign against the Moscow Helsinki Group: NGOs Face Prosecution") [#42757], [ID 11568]

Document(s): Open document

17.01.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

President Putin signs controversial law curbing NGOs ("Putin Signs Law Curbing NGOs") [#42119], [ID 11569]

Document(s): Open document

16.01.2006 - Source: ReliefWeb

Russian court bans British NGO "Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development" (CPCD) and Germany's "HELP - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe" (Help for Self-Help) from Ingushetya; ban of US-NGO "International Medical Corps" planned ("Russia bans British, German NGOs from troubled region near Chechnya (AFP)") [#42035], [ID 11570]

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Pressure on NGOs escalated in 2005 ("World Report 2006") [#42318], [ID 11566]

"Pressure on NGOs escalated in 2005. A proposed new law, adopted in the first of three required readings in the State Duma in November, would dramatically increase the government’s powers to interfere with their work and would close down foreign NGOs operating in Russia. The law was still pending at this writing.
NGOs that work on human rights issues in Chechnya came under increasing fire in 2005. These groups, the activists who lead them, and the people they work with increasingly faced administrative and judicial harassment, and, in the most severe cases, persecution, threats, and physical attacks. For example, the authorities opened two criminal cases against the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, accusing it of inciting racial hatred and violating tax laws. If found guilty, Stanislav Dmitrievsky, its director, could face five years in prison.
Although harassment of critical NGOs that do not work on Chechnya was less severe, the working environment deteriorated significantly in 2005. Government officials at both the federal and regional level stepped up their verbal attacks on these groups. In a number of regions, officials used legislation that prohibits extremism to shut down NGOs while in others they selectively used registration procedures or audits to harass groups of which they disapproved."

Document(s): Open document

06.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Putin ordered amendments on planned NGO bill after CoE expressed concerns ("Russia: Putin Backtracks On NGO Bill") [#40226], [ID 11572]

Document(s): Open document

16.09.2005 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Nizhny Novgorod: harassment of members of human rights NGO Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS) reported ("Staffers of the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society harassed and threatened again") [#36824], [ID 11573]

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Legislation gives authorities the right to suspend political parties or NGOs ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41473], [ID 11575]

"The government provides some space for freedom of assembly and association. However, legislation passed in 2002 gives the authorities the right to suspend political parties or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) whose members are accused of extremism. Critics argue that the law offers an excessively broad definition of extremism, giving the government great latitude to suppress legitimate opposition political activities. In his May 2004 state of the nation speech, Putin launched a stinging attack on NGOs that are “receiving funding from influential foreign foundations and serving dubious groups and commercial interests.” In 2004, human rights groups were attacked on state-dominated media for working against Russia’s interests, and the offices of some rights groups were raided. Officials called for a state investigation of the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers, one of the country’s most respected rights organizations.
The nongovernmental sector is composed of thousands of diverse groups, with many of them dependent on funding from foreign sources. While there had earlier been trends among Russia’s newly wealthy to support the NGO sector through charitable giving, the prosecution and repression of business magnates (including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, patron of the Open Russia charitable fund), who had earlier supported NGOs focused on democratic reform has had a chilling effect on such funding. In 2004, a series of nationwide commemorations of the terrorist attack in Beslan was organized nominally under the leadership of youth, civic, and labor groups, although in fact its slogans and agenda were determined by government officials."

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Trade union rights legally protected, but limited in practice ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41473], [ID 11576]

"While trade union rights are legally protected, they are limited in practice. Although strikes and worker protests occur, anti-union discrimination and reprisals for strikes are not uncommon, and employers often ignore collective bargaining rights. In a rapidly changing economy in transition from the former system of total state domination, unions have proved unable to establish a significant presence in much of the private sector. The largest labor federation works in close cooperation with the Kremlin and coordinated a mass rally in Moscow under the direct supervision of the authorities to protest terrorism after the Beslan tragedy."

Document(s): Open document

21.07.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Human rights activists concerned about civil society after president Putin spoke out against foreign funding of political organisations ("Russia: Putin 'Foreign Funding' Remarks Draw Civil Society Concerns") [#34346], [ID 11577]

Document(s): Open document

15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House

State attitudes toward civil society deteriorate; Putin warns against the NGOs „servicing dubious group and commercial interests“ ("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32939], [ID 11578]

"Regarding civil society, this report is concerned primarily with the role that NGOs have played in overseeing state activities. Unfortunately, state attitudes toward civil society deteriorated over the course of 2004. Putin's annual Address to the Federal Assembly, which is usually viewed as a guide for action by state officials, set an adversarial tone between the state and independent groups. The president used threatening language in regard to NGOs whose goals he described as "obtaining funding from influential foreign or domestic foundations" or "servicing dubious group and commercial interests." Putin said that many Russian NGOs do not make an effort to address Russia's most pressing problems, including basic human rights violations, because they do not want to offend their sponsors. By casting doubt on the patriotism of these groups, Putin opened them to attacks by regional officials and tax collectors who did not support their activities."

Document(s): Open document

15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Increased state attempts to control the NGO sector; organizations that would cooperate with the authorities are promoted; the Human Rights Commission dissolved ("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32939], [ID 11580]

"The Putin administration sought to promote NGOs that would cooperate more easily with the Kremlin. In June, for example, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with 48 NGOs that had gained a Kremlin seal of approval. Unlike previous conferences between officials and representatives of the NGO community, such as the 2001 Civic Forum, this meeting comprised a group of guests carefully screened to cull out prominent critical groups, such as Memorial, For Human Rights, and the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers. Groups like Memorial, which have documented Russian military abuses in Chechnya, are under severe pressure from the state.
The most insidious case was Putin's post-Beslan proposal to set up a public chamber representing a pseudo civil society to ostensibly oversee state actions. Once established, the body would include representatives of NGOs considered to be suitable for partnering with the authorities. In practice, the members of this body would have neither the leverage nor the incentive to hold the state accountable. "This is the real threat to Russian democracy," said Georgy Kunadze, Russia's deputy human rights ombudsman, in an article in Izvestia. Legislative consideration of Putin's proposed bill continued into 2005. Along similar lines, Putin dissolved the official Human Rights Commission in November and replaced it with the Council for Developing Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights, reported the Moscow Times. The new body will help coordinate top-down initiatives with NGOs but is not seen as a way for such groups to influence the government."

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Russian human rights NGO, the Nizhnii Novgorod Society for Human Rights, ordered to suspend their activities; there are concerns over continuing pressure on human rights defenders and human rights organizations by the authorities ("Nizhnii Novgorod Society for Human Rights ordered to halt activities") [#32637], [ID 11585]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

NGOs have a potential to make an essential contribution to the functioning of democracy and the protection of human rights; however,administrative, fiscal, and physical harassment of some NGO reported ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710], [ID 11586]

"121. On the occasion of our visit to Moscow and other regions of the Russian Federation, we have had an opportunity to meet and discuss with numerous representatives of domestic and international non-governmental organisations active in Russia. Our personal impressions is that these organisations are active, committed and have a potential to make an essential contribution to the normal functioning of democracy and the protection of human rights in Russia. They include some internationally known organisations such as "Memorial", the Moscow Helsinki Group and the Committee "Soldiers' Mothers of Russia" – which is reportedly transforming into a political party. Others are less known but they also deserve our full recognition and support.

122. We are, however, concerned about the emerging campaign, conducted by high state officials, which is clearly aimed at discrediting an important part of the Russian civil society. According to the International Federation for Human Rights, on 7 May 2004, during a press-conference on the situation of Russian prisons, the Head of the General Direction of Sentence Enforcement of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (GUIN) General Kraev said that "according to the information of the Ministry of Justice, NGOs were financed by criminal organisations". In particular, General Kraev accused some human rights organisations, "criminal authorities", inmates' families and lawyers of destabilizing the activities of the Ministry of Justice by pressuring the administration of the prison system and by disseminating false information in the media63. According to Kraev, there are 163 "so called" human rights organisations financed by oligarchs. A number of non-governmental organisations were explicitly singled out in his speech.

123. A reason for even greater concern is the declaration by President Putin, made on the occasion of his annual speech on the state of the nation in front of the Federation Council on 26 May 2004 64. In his speech, the Russian president declared: "In our country, there are thousands of public associations and unions that work constructively. But not all of the organisations are oriented towards standing up for people's real interests. For some of them, the priority is to receive financing from influential foreign foundations. Others serve dubious group and commercial interests. And the most serious problems of the country and its citizens remain unnoticed. I must say that when violations of fundamental and basic human rights are concerned, when people's real interests are infringed upon, the voice of such organisations is often not even heard. And this is not surprising: they simply cannot bite the hand that feeds them. Of course, such examples cannot be grounds for us to make accusations against civil groups as a whole. I think that these problems are unavoidable, and of a temporary nature."

124. We certainly hope that the Russian president's policy with regard to civil society will be inspired by the last and not the first part of his statement and that reported administrative, fiscal, and physical harassment of some NGO will no longer occur. It goes without saying that this is an essential precondition for the normal functioning of democracy and the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Russia. The use of the power and the moral authority of the Russian president will be of critical importance also in this respect."

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

No major progress in the investigation of the murder of prominent human rights defender Nikolai Girenko ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710], [ID 11587]

"273. Nikolai Girenko – prominent human rights defender, professor of ethnology and expert on racism and discrimination in the Russian Federation – was shot dead on 19 June 2004 in his home in St Petersburg. Nikolai Girenko was well known and widely respected for his work and research on racism and discrimination in the Russian Federation. He was Head of the Minority Rights Commission at the St Petersburg Scientific Union and had conducted several studies for Moscow and St Petersburg authorities on neo-Nazi and skinhead groups in the Russian Federation. He had repeatedly warned that such groups were on the rise. Nikolai Girenko made expert contributions to a number of high-profile investigations and court cases concerning alleged racially motivated attacks and was renowned as the foremost expert on this issue within the Russian Federation155. Days after the attack an extremist group claimed responsibility for the murder on their web-site. We are disappointed to find out that no major progress in the investigation of this murder has been made as of April 2005 and we therefore call on the Russian authorities to ensure thorough and quick investigation and bring perpetrators to justice."

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Authorities stepped up pressure against human rights organizations in 2004 ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events 2004)") [#32117], [ID 11588]

"Authorities stepped up pressure against human rights organizations in 2004, and exercised increasingly strict control over their registration and funding. There were concerns that the authorities were attempting to encourage the growth of organizations loyal to the authorities, while restricting the operation of independent ones.
Against this background, some human rights activists viewed a presidential decree on “Additional State Support to the Human Rights Movement in the Russian Federation,” which was introduced in September, with skepticism. The decree called on the presidential representatives in the country’s regions to invite members of human rights organizations to work in consultative and advisory bodies. On the surface, the decree appeared as a positive initiative. However, there were misgivings that it only created another mechanism that may be used to control NGOs.
A statement made by President Putin during his annual address to the Federal Assembly also caused consternation. The president alleged that some NGOs primarily orient their activities toward “soliciting financial support from influential foreign foundations” and “serve questionable group and commercial interests” and that they, therefore, are not credible in their criticism of human rights violations.

Human rights activists involved in work related to the conflict in Chechnya were particularly vulnerable to persecution.
• On 16 January, the mutilated body of Aslan Davletukaev, a human rights activist working with the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society (RCFS), was found near Gudermes in Chechnya. Davletukaev had been kidnapped on 10 January by a 50-man armed formation.
• On 16 April, Moscow lawyer Stanislav Markelov was attacked in the Moscow metro by a group of young men. He was beaten until he lost consciousness. Markelov had been involved in a number of high profile court cases related to the conflict in Chechnya, including the case of an OMON (special police) serviceman accused of torturing and “disappearing” the Chechen student Zelimkhan Murdalov in Grozny in 2001. As of the end of the year, the perpetrators had not been identified.
• On 12 July, the Ingushetia office of the RCFS was subjected to an unauthorized search, during which an information officer was detained and documents and equipment were seized. Local police claimed that they had information indicating that weapons and camouflage uniforms had been taken into the organization’s office on the eve of the 21-22 June terrorist attack in Ingushetia. The police also added that, in view of the “difficult situation in Ingushetia,” they “did not have time” to obtain a search warrant.
• Also in July, the Nazran prosecutor requested that the Nazran District Court investigate a number of press releases published by the Chechen Committee of National Salvation (ChCNS) to determine whether their content was of an “extremist” character. The prosecutor reportedly acted on the initiative of the Ingush Federal Security Service (FSB). On 25 October, the Nazran District Court ruled that the ChCNS publications in question did not have any “extremist” content. However, the prosecutor appealed the decision and, on 10 February 2005, the Ingush Supreme Court revoked it and remitted the case to the Nazran District Court for a new hearing. Should ChCNS be found guilty of publishing “extremist” material, its activities may be suspended for up to six months by the Ministry of Justice or a new trial aimed at its closure may be initiated.

Human rights organizations not working on issues related to the conflict in Chechnya were also targets of harassment during the year.
• The Kazan Human Rights Center experienced a series of problems after releasing a book in April that discussed torture by law enforcement authorities in Tatarstan. Local authorities initiated, without any obvious reason, a financial audit of the organization, local TV broadcasted information discrediting the organization and its leaders, and two masked men broke into the office of the organization and destroyed computers, a scanner, a printer and a TV set. The Heter publishing house said that it was having “difficulties” because it had published the book on torture, and in late May the publishing house informed the Kazan Human Rights Center that it had filed a lawsuit with an arbitration court demanding that the center reimburses it for 220,000 rubles (about EUR 6,100) of lost profit. The publishers also demanded that the entire print of the book be destroyed and that all copies already sold be “withdrawn.” At the end of the year, the lawsuit was still pending. In addition, in June, the Department of the Ministry of Justice in Tatarstan initiated an audit of the Human Rights Center."

Document(s): Open document

09.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Head of humanitarian NGO “Save the Generation” unlawfully detained by unknown law enforcement/security structure, probably FSB, in Grozny ("IHF Press Release "IHF Appeals to Chechen Prosecutor Regarding the “Disappearance” of the Head of the Humanitarian NGO “Save the Generation”, Murad Muradov, on 15 April 2005"") [#31964], [ID 11589]

Document(s): Open document

03.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Human rights activists are being harassed, tortured and persecuted for peacefully exercising the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly ("Europe and Central Asia: Human rights activists harassed, tortured and persecuted") [#31734], [ID 11590]

Document(s): Open document

03.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Reports on cases of torture, ill-treatment, disappearances and alleged extrajudicial executions of members of the NGO Russian-Chechen Friendship Society in North Caucasus ("Appeal Case: The Russian-Chechen Friendship Society under threat") [#31748], [ID 11591]

Document(s): Open document

14.04.2005 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Europe and CIS: Annual report focused on the situation of human rights defenders ("Human Rights Defenders on the Front Line") [#31363], [ID 11592]

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2005 - Source: UN Human Rights Council (formerly UN Commission on Human Rights)

Deterioration of the situation of human rights defenders ("Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world E/CN.4/2005/NGO/163") [#30348], [ID 11593]

"Attacks on Human Rights Defenders are increasing alongside restrictions of their rights. In September 2004 the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint FIDH-OMCT programme1, reported the negative impact of enactments restricting freedoms of expression, association and of assembly:

- New laws were adopted in 2004 restricting freedom of assembly and NGOs' freedom to receive funding,

- Attacks against Human Rights Defenders are many, especially in Chechnya where local NGOs are confronted with situations of extreme danger (eg, In january 2005, Mr. Makhmut Dchaparovic Magomadov, a lawyer and member of the Chechen Committee for National Salvation was kidnapped by people believed to be members of local authorities). Pressure and violence against activists is also recorded in the rest of the country, in Moscow (persecutions on Andrei Sakharov Center), in St Petersburg (Soldiers Mothers of Saint Petersburg, Memorial, killing of Nicolai Girenko), in Krasnodar region where several proceedings have been instituted by the authorities against the local NGOs with a view to closing these down; in Tatarstan and elsewhere.

- Defamation campaigns to discredit Human Rights Defenders are numerous. On May 7th 2004 during a press-conference on the situation in Russian prisons, General Kraev, a high representative of the General Direction of Sentence Enforcement of the Ministry of Justice, said that “according to information received from the Ministry of Justice, certain NGOs were financed by criminal organisations”. Worse, on May 26 2004, in a speech delivered to the Federation Council, the Upper Chamber of the Parliament, Vladimir Putin declared in his annual speech on the state of the Nation: "thousands of associations and civil unions exist and work constructively in [Russia]. However, far from all of them are concerned by the defence of the real interests of the people. For some of these organisations, the main objective has become to receive funds from influent foreign and domestic foundations, for others the aim is to serve dubious groups and commercial interests"."

Document(s): Open document

11.06.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Duma passed government-sponsored bill that makes it it more difficult for NGOs to call for a referendum; bill must still be approved by upper house and signed by President Putin ("Russian Duma Passes Bill Restricting Referendums") [#23235], [ID 11597]

Document(s): Open document