The Christian Science Monitor

New Russian purse strings

Last month the Duma amended the 2006 state budget to include 500 million rubles (about $17 million) for "developing democracy in Russia and abroad," a step many NGOs have welcomed.

But Simonov argues that it's a sign the Kremlin aims to replace independent civil society with tame NGOs.

MEDIA WATCHDOG: Alexei Simonov says the new bill is intended to cause fear among NGOs. FRED WEIR

Get all the Monitor's headlines by e-mail. Subscribe for free.

"Whenever I apply for foreign grants, I propose what I'm going to do and they decide whether to fund it," he says. "With the Russian government, they're always proposing what I should do with any funds they give me."

Under existing laws, NGOs already report on their sources of funding to tax authorities. The new rules would require them to register with a special state agency, which will scrutinize each NGO's accounts and activities before deciding whether to close it down or not.

Empowering bureaucrats

Ella Pamfilova, who heads the Kremlin's council on developing civil society, says she fears the law will hand too much power to bureaucrats.

"I don't see the need for such a controversial, raw, bribe-inducing bill that gives government officials a lot of leeway for lawlessness," she says. "When any official gets criticized, he'll now have 10 times more ways to shut down a public organization by accusing it of being engaged in political activities."

Even some groups whose focus is far from politics say that they are worried.

"We already face all kinds of difficulties and [the bureaucratic hurdles] involved in re-registering could lead to serious difficulties," says Yury Kapsrov, president of the Russian Society of New Music, an association of musicians. "There already isn't any state funding for artists' unions. If they make things tougher, it could lead to collapse."

In response to critics, Putin said Monday that the bill should be toned down. His administration would send amendments to the Duma in the next five days.

"The main achievements of modern Russia are the democratic process and civil society, and we must make sure that we do not, as they say, throw the baby out with the bath water," said Putin.