Putin signs law entitling Justice Ministry to list NGOs as "foreign agents"
MOSCOW. June 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law, which simplifies the procedure of registration of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as "foreign agents".
The law gives the Justice Ministry the right to add an NGO to the list of "foreign agents" even if the NGO itself does not apply for being registered as such.
It is a part of the effort to upgrade NGO legislation regarding public control over operations of "foreign agent" NGOs which are dodging the registration as "foreign agents."
The law says the registration of an NGO as a "foreign agent" may be appealed in court.
In addition, a "foreign agent" NGO which fails to apply for being registered as a "foreign agent" consistent with the law will have to pay a fine and will be added to the list of "foreign agent" NGOs by the Justice Ministry.
The law gives a new ground for surprise inspections of NGOs: information received by the Russian Justice Ministry or its territorial bodies from public authorities, local self-government bodies, citizens or organizations about "operations of a "foreign agent" NGO which has not applied for registration as a "foreign agent" NGO."
The document was published on the official legal data portal.