20:06, 14 May 2014

Court in Novocherkassk rules to recognize "Union of Don Women" as "foreign agent"

"Union of Don Women" members at the conference in Rostov-on-Don, July 2013. Photo: "Union of Don Women", www.donwomen.ru

Today, Natalia Kalashnikova, Judge of the Novocherkassk City Court, has made her decision to satisfy the lawsuit lodged by the city prosecutor's office and obliged the "Union of Don Women" to get registered as a "foreign agent".

"The decision has not yet entered into force: we still have 30 days for lodging an appeal," Furkat Tishaev, the lawyer of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", who is defending the interests of the above Union, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "After the appeal, within two weeks, the Union will have time for the voluntary execution of the judgment, that is, to apply for an entry to the register. Then, court marshals will have to launch the enforcement proceedings. But we don't understand how they will do it, because the law on NGOs has no provision about the enforcing an organization to get registered as a foreign agents. This can happen only on a voluntary basis," said Furkat Tishaev.

The lawyer of the HRC "Memorial" has added that the advocates intend to appeal against the decision of the Novocherkassk court.

Author: Olesya Dianova

Source: CK correspondent