Russia set to ban US foundation
Print Edition
RUSSIAN prosecutors yesterday declared a US government-funded foundation an “undesirable” organization, the fourth entity to be banned under a controversial law targeting foreign groups accused of political meddling in the country.
The US Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law (USRF), which promotes private sector development and institution building in Russia, will be banned as its activities “present a threat to the foundations of Russia’s constitutional system and state security,” Russia’s Prosecutor General said in a statement.
The Prosecutor “has decided to declare as undesirable” its activities and banned its president, US citizen Mark Pomar, from entering Russia until 2025, the statement said.
The decision now needs to be rubber-stamped by the justice ministry, which keeps a register of “undesirable” groups.
Prosecutors accused USRF, which has had an office in Russia since 2009, of financing local NGOs that “participate in political processes,” branded “foreign agents” by the Russian justice ministry.
In 2006, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his then American counterpart, George W. Bush, announced their intention to establish USRF to promote economic development and strengthen bilateral ties, according to the organization’s website.
USRF could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Critics of the law on “undesirable” organizations — under which Russian activists who cooperate with these groups can face fines and prison time — say it strips local NGOs of crucial funding they could not receive from domestic donors.
On Monday, New York-based foundations run by financier George Soros — the Open Society Foundation and its Assistance Fund — were slapped with the “undesirable” label and banned from the country.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
