19 October 2006, 22:38
Human Rights Watch office in Moscow suspends its work
The Moscow-based office of the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch has suspended its activities. The reason is that the Russian branch of the Human Rights Watch has not yet passed its reregistration under the new Law on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Allison Gil, head of the office, reported.
She said that the branch of the Human Rights Watch delivered all the necessary documents to the "Rosregistratsia" (Russian Registration Agency) at the end of September, the "Interfax" informs.
October 18 was the deadline of the six-month period, during which all the foreign-based NGOs were obliged to get reregistered. The failed organizations have to stop their activities. Out of several hundreds NGOs, a little more than 90 have succeeded in the procedure. The remaining ones have been granted the right to present their documents later.
Radio Liberty reminds that this April the authorities toughened the NGO regulations, stating that some of them - through violating the legislation - are under the influence of foreign governments.
