Obama, Clinton: Russian Human Rights Activists Are Not U.S. Agents

Moscow Helsinki Group leader Ludmila Alexeyeva and Movement For Human Rights Director Lev Ponomarev have received from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton an answer to the question they posed to President Barak Obama. Alexeyeva and Ponomarev asked Obama in an open letter in July if their organizations can be considered U.S. agents. In response, Clinton writes [translated from Russian]: "President Obama asked me to answer you... Answering your specific question whether non-government organizations receiving U.S. grants are 'agents' of the U.S. government, let me tell you categorically that we neither impose any objectives on your organization nor control its activities, nor do we have any wish to do so." The letter reads that the activists of organizations receiving U.S. aid are responsible for determining their priorities and activities, not their donors. A law was recently approved in Russia establishing a registry of non-profit entities which qualify as "foreign agents," that is, receive foreign grants. Entities must apply to be entered into the registry before they can begin operating. Their financial statements will be subject to compulsory audits. Human rights activists say that the law is overtly discriminatory and beyond the legal framework. The bill on foreign agents was signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 20.

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http://www.mhg.ru/news/1326E35B