Fedotov: Putin’s words on NGOs hold out good promise

Mikhail Fedotov, the head of the Council for development of civil society and human rights set up under the president of Russia, said on Friday that Putin’s words about the law on NGOs -“foreign agents” held out good promise. Vladimir Putin who met a delegation of the Civil G20 forum said earlier on Friday that it was necessary to analyze the international practice of application of the law “on foreign agents” and think on ways of improving this legislation so that it does not interfere with work. The Russian head of state said that Russian laws on NGOs were more liberal than in other countries. Mikhail Fedotov said that the idea of registering NGOs that receive funds from foreign sources was consonant with the ideas of the Council for development of civil society and human rights set up under the president of Russia. All NGOs, including those involved in political activities, that are financed from abroad should be registered but only without the name of “foreign agent”.