Russia to file case against respected elections-monitoring group

Published January 13, 2015

Russia's Justice Ministry says it is filing a legal case against the country's only independent elections monitoring group for allegedly failing to register as a foreign agent.

Under a law passed last year, any non-governmental organization that receives foreign funding and is deemed to be involved in political activities must register as a "foreign agent." Critics say the term is pejorative and aimed at undermining NGOs' credibility and support.

A Justice Ministry statement Tuesday said the vote-monitoring group Golos was found to have engaged in political activity and had failed to register. The case is to be presented to a court on Wednesday.

Golos Director Liliya Shibanova told the state news agency RIA Novosti that the group has not received foreign funding since the law took effect.

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