23:36, 18 October 2006

Reregistration term for foreign NGOs expires in Russia

Wednesday, October 18, is the deadline established for the affiliates of foreign-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for presenting their reregistration documents to the Federal Registration Service ("Rosregistratsia"). Such reregistration is mandatory under the law on NGOs.

"As of Tuesday evening, a total of 91 branches (affiliates) of foreign-based NGOs have passed reregistration and have been included into the Registry, the documents on 79 more entities are under examination," Anatoly Panchenko, deputy head of the "Rosregistratsia" Department for political parties' matters and registration of public and religious organizations, told the "Interfax."

He said that among the NGOs who have undergone reregistration are the Russian representative offices of the American Chamber of Commerce, Carnegie and Ford Endowments, non-commercial corporations "International Assistance Group," United Families Foundation and the Oxfam Society.

Radio Liberty reminds that this April the authorities toughened the NGO regulations, stating that some of them are under the influence of foreign governments.