MacArthur Foundation's departure from Russia proves claims against it are founded - Federation Council
MOSCOW. July 24 (Interfax) - The Federation Council believes that the decision of the MacArthur Foundation to end its operations in Russia was made in the Foundation's best interest.
"Russian laws remain rather liberal in this field [the activity of foreign NGOs]. The MacArthur Foundation made the decision in its best interest, and I believe it is inexpedient to make assumptions about the prerequisites for this decision," Federation Council Constitutional Legislation Committee Chairman Andrei Klishas told reporters on Thursday.
Foreign NGOs uninvolved in political activity in Russia have no impediments to their work and operate successfully, he said.
Obviously, the MacArthur Foundation leaders did not allow for the possibility to verify their activity in Russia.
"This may be a proof of justified claims against this non-profit organization. Only those NGOs which are not prepared to operate by the law will leave, and that will be good for this area of activity," Klishas said.
The decision of MacArthur Foundation to leave Russia was announced on Wednesday. The Foundation decided to stop its operations after the Federation Council had put it on the so-called 'patriotic stop-list' together with another eleven foreign NGOs, mostly American.