Russia to require foreign funded NGO's to register, submit to audits to protect Russian democracy from outside influence-Updated, approved

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Update, 7/13/12, "Russian parliament adopts NGO 'foreign agents' bill," BBC

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Update: 7/6/12, "Russian opposition activist Boris Nemtsov said the bill appeared to pose a serious threat to the work of Golos, Amnesty International and the anti-corruption group Transparency International." "Russian parliament gives first approval to NGO bill," BBC
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"Russian democracy needs to be protected from outside influences."

7/6/12, "Russian parliament to debate NGO 'foreign agent' bill," BBC

"Russia's parliament is set to debate a bill requiring non-governmental organisations engaging in political activity and receiving funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents".

That phrase would have to be included in all the relevant NGOs' online and printed materials.

The Kremlin says the bill is needed to protect Russia from outside attempts to influence internal politics.

But critics say the authorities are using the law to try to crush dissent.

Under the bill, foreign-funded NGOs involved in politics would also have to undergo financial audits and issue biannual reports on their activities.

The governing United Russia party claims foreign governments are using NGOs in Russia as cover to bring about political change.

Vyacheslav Nikonov, an MP for the party and one of the bill's authors, said: "There is so much evidence about regime change in Yugoslavia, now in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, in Kosovo - that's what happens in the world, some governments are working to change regimes in other countries."

"Russian democracy needs to be protected from outside influences," he added.

The bill's critics dismiss that as Kremlin paranoia, and say the government is seeking to stifle civil society.

It was a foreign-funded NGO, Golos, which presented evidence of widespread vote-rigging in Russia's recent parliamentary and presidential polls.

At the time, the government accused the United States of using NGOs to try to influence the situation in Russia."

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