This document was initiated by the Human Rights Watch, the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Inter-regional Human Rights Association "Agora", the Youth Human Rights Movement and the Human Rights Resource Centre. The proposals of human rights defenders directed to the Ministry of Justice are the results of discussion at the "round table" which took
place on April 8th in the Independent Press Centre. The initiatives to change the NGO legislation concern establishment and registration, reporting and inspections of the Russian non-governmental organizations.

At the "round table" human rights activists spoke about recognition of the Fundamental principles of the status of non-governmental organizations in Europe by Russia and about spreading the immunity from superfluous state control on NGOs by analogy to the protection of small and medium-size business.

On April 15th, the deadline day for submitting reports on activity of Russian NGOs, the Council for assistance to civil society development and human rights by the President of Russia held its first meeting with Dmitry Medvedev. One of the issues on agenda was the reform of the NGO legislation.

Another Council by the President of the Russian Federation - on improving the civil legislation - has presented to the public the project of the Concept of reforming legislation on legal entities. It contains a number of cardinal proposals to bring the legislation, including that on NGOs, into accord with the European legal order.

Information via hro.org

FINAL Translation of Proposals