President Vladimir Putin says he would welcome "improving" a controversial law on non-governmental organizations that activists say is aimed at stamping out dissent.
Putin told the G20 Civil Summit on Friday that he wanted to examine the law's application and alter it so that "it doesn't get in anyone's way," Russian news agencies reported.
Last year, parliament rubber-stamped a Putin-backed bill that requires all NGOs receiving foreign funding and found to engage in vaguely defined "political activity" to register as "foreign agents," a term conjuring visions of Soviet-era intrigues.
Many senior officials were visibly uncomfortable with the law and did nothing to enforce it until this spring, when hundreds of NGOs were raided after Putin mentioned it in a speech.
(AP)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.