06 July 2012

RUSSIA: Pugnacious Putin Pursues NGOs.


     President Vlad Putin is nothing if not tenacious...and pugnacious.
     Putin doesn't like 'outsiders' meddling in Russia's affairs.
     That includes those pesky NGO's.
     To limit and govern them...his ruling party passed a new bill that will require NGO's engaging in political activity...and receiving any foreign funding...to register as 'foreign agents.'
    In Russia...'foreign agents'...carries the strong whiff of  'treason.'
   The bill will require such NGO's to face audits...and issue 2x reports per year...with heavy fines and 2 year prison sentences for failure to comply.