MacArthur regret at the opportunity to make “patriotic stop-list” – RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, July 8 – RIA Novosti, Alexei Bogdanovsky. Public MacArthur Foundation regrets the possible inclusion in the “patriotic stop list” and looks forward to the conclusion of the Russian authorities that the organization’s activities comply with Russian legislation, said Foundation President Julie Stash.

The Federation Council has sent to the Prosecutor General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice “patriotic stop-list” of 12 foreign NGOs, which included, in addition to Soros and MacArthur Foundation, the World Congress of Ukrainians, Ukrainian World Coordinating Council, Crimean field mission on Human Rights. Also in the stop list appear the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Freedom House, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Foundation “Education for Democracy”, the East European Democratic Centre.

“With great regret perceive the news that the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation recommended that the Attorney General of the Russian Federation to include the MacArthur Foundation in the list of organizations engaged in” undesirable activities “in the territory of the Russian Federation. We believe that this estimate is based on an incorrect understanding of the essence of activity MacArthur Foundation in Russia, “- said in a statement Stash.

According to her, the Foundation comes from the fact that the publication of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation” stop list “is not a final legal assessment of the fund as” junk ” “since such a definition is the responsibility of the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation”.

“We also believe that the Prosecutor General’s Office will review submitted to it by the Council of Federation of the list. We look forward to the conclusion that our activities are always consistent with the Russian legislation “, – added the President of the Foundation.

She said that since 1991, the MacArthur Foundation in Russia supported charitable and civic organizations, which are aimed at” improving the lives of Russians, the development of higher education in Russia and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons “.

She recalled that the Moscow branch of the fund was opened in 1992.

” His staff consists exclusively Russian citizens, patriots of their country. The MacArthur Foundation is completely independent from the government and the US authorities are not funded by the US government. We do not engage in political activity and does not support any political activities, “- added the President of the MacArthur Foundation.

Also, she said, the fund has helped strengthen the independent university in Russia that has allowed to develop civil initiatives and has enabled scientists do research on topics of interest.

“In the sphere of human rights, our grantees help vulnerable members of Russian society to assert their rights and promote public discussion of important social issues,” – he concluded Stash.