'Worst Fears' of NGOs Realized

'Worst Fears' of NGOs Realized: "Worst Fears' of NGOs Realized
By Anatoly Medetsky
Staff Writer

Human rights, social services and aid to those hurt by the Nazis and Soviets would be further compromised by a proposal on enforcing a controversial law on nongovernmental organizations, NGO representatives said.

The April 7 proposal on how to enforce the law was expected to be approved by government officials before Monday, when the law comes into force, Alexei Zhafyarov, head of the Justice Ministry's Federal Registration Service's NGO department, indicated.

NGO representatives said the proposal would make the legislation, which was criticized by Western governments for squashing civil liberties after it was signed into law in January by President Vladimir Putin, even more burdensome by requiring annual reports on finances and activities."