Russian authorities have filed a legal case against an election watchdog, accusing it of failing to declare itself a “foreign agent”. The group, Golos, is the first non-governmental organisation targeted under a new law requiring such groups that receive financial aid from abroad to register as foreign agents. The law was passed after mass protests against President Vladimir Putin. Golos said it would fight to prove its innocence. In recent weeks, more than 100 civil society and human rights groups across Russia have been subjected to inspections by prosecutors and tax officials in connection with the law.
Now Golos – one of the country’s most prominent NGOs, whose name means both “voice” and “vote” – has been accused by the Justice Ministry of being an unregistered “foreign agent”. The case is to be presented to a court on Wednesday. The group could be fined up to 500,000 roubles ($16,000; £10,500) and its director up to 300,000 roubles.
… Golos collected and published evidence of alleged fraud in Russia’s parliamentary poll just over a year ago, says the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg in Moscow. Those claims of vote-rigging in favour of the party in power sparked mass protests in Moscow and other major cities.
Full Article: BBC News – Russia pursues election watchdog Golos under anti-NGO law.