WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In July 2012, a law was passed in Russia requiring foreign-funded NGOs engaged in political activities to register as "foreign agents" and to label all their publications as such. The law became effective in November 2012.
“The [Russian] government passed new repressive laws…to harass, discredit, prosecute, imprison, detain, and fine individuals and entities that engaged in activities critical of the government, including NGOs,” the report claimed.
Commenting on the law, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was needed to limit direct and indirect foreign interference and lobbying in the country.
The report also condemned Russia for other purported human rights violations including discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons and some ethnic and religious minorities.
The State Department report accused Moscow of restricting the free speech of anti-government NGOs and media outlets just months after Reporters Without Borders criticized US President Barack Obama for using national security as a pretext for prosecuting political dissenters at a record pace.
The Obama administration has already charged eight whistleblowers under the US Espionage Act during his two terms in office, compared with just three under all other administrations since the law was adopted in 1917, according to Reporters Without Borders.
