US NGOs Evacuate Staff from Russia

Two US NGOs, National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republic Institute (IRI), closed their offices in Russia and moved the Russian employees (seven persons, including branch heads) together with their families to Lithuania. The employees explained the move by the fears of political persecution in Russia under the newly adopted state treason law. Under that law any person who provides consulting services to a foreign organization may be jailed for up to 20 years if the activity of the organization is found to be aimed "against the security of Russia." The employees hope to obtain in Lithuania either a working visa or else political asylum.

http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2115943