Source: HRO.org (info), 14/02/12 

· Freedom of association  · Human rights defenders 

Moscow Helsinki Group has published a report, ‘Freedom of Association in 2011’, which argues that the Russian authorities continue to create artificial barriers to the development of civil society in Russia. 

The report analyses legislative initiatives in the area of NGO regulation and current law enforcement practice. The report points out that, along with a reduction in the number of violations of the right of association in 2011, there were instances of pressure on individual non-profits that are actively engaged in human rights protection (an obvious example being the independent election monitor Golos - www.golos.org). Nothing has changed with regard to inspections of NGOs by official bodies, which mostly end with sanctions against NGOs, and the registration of an NGO and the introduction of changes to an NGO’s statute both take up much time and entail significant costs. [Read more]