22:55, 20 October 2006

MHG: 400 NGO branches suspended in Russia

Some 400 branches of foreign-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have suspended their work in Russia in the context of enforcement of the Law on NGOs, human rights activists declared.

"According to official data, about 100 branches have passed their reregistration, that is only 20%," Nina Tagankina, executive director of the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG), told the "Interfax" on Friday. She stated that suspension of a number of foreign NGOs has resulted in suspension of human rights, humanitarian and charity projects, which they were implementing in Russia.

Under the Law on NGOs, the branches (affiliates) of foreign-based organizations had to submit their reregistration documents before October 18.