Further discussion requested on ‘political activities’ amendment

Civic Chamber to hold a ‘zero’ reading of draft legislation on ‘political activities’

05.04.2016

The Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights and the organising committee of the All-Russian Civic Forum have requested that a ‘zero’ reading be carried out.

The Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation is prepared to hold a ‘zero’ reading of the Ministry of Justice’s draft refining the meaning of ‘political activities’ in the foreign agents law, states Ivestia, quoting the Secretary of the Civic Chamber Aleksandr Brechalov. The date of the ‘zero’ reading remains unknown.

Earlier the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights addressed the Civic Chamber, calling for a ‘zero’ reading of the draft “in order to establish a consolidated civil society position on the legislation”. A similar request was made by the organising committee of the All-Russian Civic Forum.

Adoption of the amendments in their current form would do more harm than good, Evgenii Bobrov of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, told Izvestia. “Of course, it is necessary to meet and discuss which organisations now fall under these criteria and what this will result in”, he said.

The amendment has been criticised by Russian scholars and cultural figures, a number of famous human rights activists and regional ombudsmen. The former Human Rights Commissioner Ella Pamfilova called for the amendment to be refined. The non-profit sector fears the amendment will negatively impact charities. The petition to the State Duma organised by the charity collective ‘All Together’ has been signed by more than 5,500 people.

Author: Georgii Ivanushkin

http://www.asi.org.ru/news/122873/

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