Doc. 8799
8 July 2000

Problems of registration of non-governmental organisations dealing with human rights in the Russian Federation

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Jurgens and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. The Assembly notes with concern recent reports by some non-governmental organisations that they have been faced with problems in registering their organisation with the Russian authorities in accordance with the law.

2. Under Russian law, all Russian citizens are guaranteed the right to form associations, and non-governmental organisations are allowed to function freely. In accordance with the Federal Law “On Public Associations” adopted in 1995, the government registers a public association either through the Federal Ministry of Justice, or through regional and local departments and agencies. The law requires that all public associations which had been registered under Soviet law, i.e. before 1995, should renew their registration with the state, filing the necessary legal documents for obligatory re-registration, by 30 June 1999. A public association which fails to re-register faces liquidation by court decision.

3. A large number of public associations (nearly half on the federal level) failed to re-register in time; a number of other NGOs were forced to change their name or statute to obtain re-registration; others were denied re-registration by the authorities. There are allegations that some regional and local authorities used the requirement for NGOs to re-register as an opportunity to silence critical NGOs, in particular those working in the field of human rights and on ecological issues.

4. For example, it appears that a large number of NGOs were required to remove the phrase “protection of human rights” or “protection of citizens’ rights” from their name and statute, since, in the view of the competent Russian officials, only the state and professional lawyers are allowed to protect these rights in Russia. Other NGOs were simply denied re-registration altogether, on grounds which do not seem to stand up to scrutiny.

5. The Assembly thus asks the competent bodies in the Russian Federation

-       to look into all complaints related to allegedly illegitimate denials of registration and re-registration of non-governmental organisations as a matter of priority;

-       in cases where the complaints can be substantiated, to register the NGO concerned without further delay.

Signed ¹ :

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Iwinski, Poland, SOC

Jaskiernia, Poland, SOC

Lippelt, Germany, LDR

Pourtaud, France, SOC

Provera, Italy, LDR

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

____________________

¹       SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group