Maxim Nichiporyenko. "Gorbachev sends message on NGO bill"

     Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Thursday that the delegates to the St. Petersburg Dialog, a forum set by the Russian and German leaders in 2000, intended to warn the Russian lower house of parliament against making hasty decisions on a bill on non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
     "As far as the bill affects interests of civil society, we are going to recommend that the State Duma does not rush discussions on the bill," he said, adding that a letter to the speaker would be sent tomorrow.
     Former German Ambassador to Russia Ernst-Jorg von Studnitz said authorities should take into account public opinion while making a decision on the bill. In November, the State Duma approved the bill on amendments to relevant laws in its first reading.
     The parliament is calling for the closer monitoring of more than half a million public, non-governmental and human rights organizations, foundations and associations and Russian President Vladimir Putin is insisting that foreign funding of any political activity in Russia be placed under state control.

RIA Novosti, December 1, 2005