On Thursday 19 December, MEPs called on the Russian authorities to immediately repeal the law on ‘foreign agents’ and bring its existing legislation into line with the Russian constitution and the country’s obligations under international law.
The 2012 law requires Russian non-governmental organisations to register with the Ministry of Justice as ‘organisations performing the functions of foreign agents’ if they receive foreign funding or participate in activities described as 'political activities'. It has recently been extended, in particular to target natural persons (see EUROPE 12376/25). The Russian register of foreign media agents includes 10 names, all of which are channels linked to Radio Free Europe or Voice of America.
They must “stop deliberately creating an atmosphere that is hostile to civil society”, the joint resolution by the ECR, Greens/EFA, S&D, Renew Europe and EPP groups reads, adopted in plenary by a show of hands. MEPs condemn the use of the law on ‘foreign agents’ as a “means to harass and suppress civil society organisations which cooperate with international donors or express political opinions”. This law limits freedom of expression, the European Parliament is concerned, and also denounces the Russian authorities’ “continued efforts” to restrict online and offline debate and independent journalism.
More generally, Parliament urges the Russian authorities to put an end to the harassment, intimidation and attacks against civil society, the media and human rights organisations and defenders. It also condemns the failure of these authorities to protect these actors from attacks, harassment and intimidation by third parties and to impartially investigate such attacks.
See resolution: http://bit.ly/2SeJJKa (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)