State Duma Committee agreed to exclude from the list of NGOs charities – Sight

The State Duma Committee for Public Associations and Religious Organizations has approved an amendment to the bill, clarifying the concept of “political activity” for non-profit organizations that offers unconditionally determine what charities can not be attributed to the structures involved in political activities.

The amendment previously made the head of Yaroslav Nilov Committee. A group of deputies from all factions submitted a draft on 16 February. It clarifies the notion of “political activities”, which is used in the law “On non-profit organizations.” In April, the initiative has been adopted in the first reading. By forms of political activity of the bill, in particular, include the participation of NGOs in meetings and processions, in efforts “to obtain the result of the election,” or in a referendum, according to TASS.

The observation of elections, referendum, participation in the formation of election commissions, as well as the parties, according to the authors, should also be attributed to the varieties of political activity. According to the text of the bill, it is also recognized as a public appeal to the state bodies of the “abolition of laws or regulations”, the spread of public policy evaluation, as well as the formation of public and political opinion through opinion polls.

Meanwhile, earlier in the meeting of the committee to finalize the proposed draft law for the second reading. The text of the initiative said that “political activity does not include activities in the field of science, culture, art, health care, prevention and health protection, social services, social support and protection of citizens, protection of motherhood and childhood, social support for people with disabilities, health promotion life, physical culture and sport, protection of flora and fauna, charitable activities, as well as activities for the promotion of philanthropy and volunteerism. ”

However, it stipulated that the activities of NGOs that focus is not political only in the event that they are not involved (including through financing) in organizing and conducting political activities in order to influence the adoption of the state authorities to take decisions, and also do not take action to change the policy state agencies do not participate in the formation of public opinion in the specified order. In connection with this clause the representatives of a number of charities, were present at the discussion of the bill in the Duma, noted that their participation in the debate in the lower house of parliament can be easily attributed to “actions aimed at changing the state bodies its policy,” which would give reason to recognize their work political. This will allow them to recognize the NGOs performing the functions of foreign agents.

Nilov proposed to delete this clause from the text of the bill.

May 11 the head of the Committee for Public Associations, a deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party Yaroslav Nilov said that the State Duma will meet benefactors and soften the bill on non-profit organizations, clarifying the concept of “political activity”.

Let’s remind, the State Duma adopted on April 20 in the first reading a bill clarifying the areas in which the political activity. These areas include: state-building and the federal system, ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia, maintenance of law and order, security, national defense, foreign policy, the integrity and stability of the political system, socio-economic and national development, functioning of the organs of state power and local self-government , regulation of the rights and freedoms of man and citizen.