Foreign Office Minister for Europe David Lidington has expressed concern about increasing pressure on NGOs in Russia.

Speaking yesterday Mr Lidington said:

We are deeply concerned about increasing pressure on NGOs in Russia. The recent amendment to the NGO law which gives the Ministry of Justice the power to register NGOs as “foreign agents” further constrains the free operation of civil society in Russia.

The swift placement of five NGOs on the “foreign agents” register last week and the recent wave of NGO inspections appear designed to undermine the important work of NGOs. We urge the Russian authorities not to place groups advocating the protection of fundamental freedoms under special scrutiny.

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