 · Freedom of association · Human rights defenders Olga Zimenkova: “The unscrupulous borrowing of US legislation in the provisions of the Russian draft federal law will lead to discrimination against the activity of non-profit organisations in Russia and the infringement of their rights...” * * * Conclusions on the draft federal law On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Regulation of the Activity of Non-profit Organizations, which Perform the Functions of a Foreign Agent, in comparison with foreign legislation and international legal treaties and agreements. The draft federal law On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Regulation of the Activity of Non-profit Organizations, which Perform the Functions of a Foreign Agent is a poor imitation of the 1938 US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). This law was passed in 1938 in order to monitor the activity of lobby groups supporting Fascist Germany and its satellite states. It was applied several times during the Second World War, but once responsibility for the law passed from the Department of State to the Department of Justice in 1942, use of the law was restricted to sending letters and notifications to people who were considered potential agents of foreign principals, announcing that they were obliged to undergo registration. Sending these letters in several cases served as proof in court that the person had intentionally refused to register. [Read more] |
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