MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI) – A Moscow court has rejected a complaint filed by non-governmental organization Transparency International-Russia challenging the legality of a warning by prosecutors over the alleged violation of law by the anti-corruption group.
The Zamoskvoretsky District Court ruled Friday that inspections of TI-Russia by prosecutors in March were legal as well as the official warning to register as “foreign agent” or face liability under the Russian law on NGOs adopted last year.
Prosecutors claim that the Russian branch of Transparency International receives funding from abroad while continuing to engage in political activities.
TI-Russia officials insist that they had received the money before the law came into force, and deny the group’s involvement in politics. They said they would appeal the Friday ruling in a higher court.
TI-Russia received a warning letter on April 26, signed by Deputy Moscow City Prosecutor Vladimir Vedernikov. The letter warned Yelena Panfilova, the director of the TI Center for Anti-Corruption Research and Initiatives, that "Russian laws should not be violated and that the violation of the law entails liability."
Under a 2012 law on NGOs, widely known as “foreign agents” law, organizations that receive funding from abroad and engage in political activities are required to register as foreign agents, or face fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,000) for NGOs and up to 300,000 rubles ($10,000) for directors of NGOs.
Non-governmental groups have come under growing pressure since the introduction of the law in July last year, which has tightened restrictions and increased bureaucratic procedures for organizations receiving foreign donations. A large-scale inspection of NGOs has been carried out for several months by prosecutors, the Justice Ministry and tax officials.
