Russia says it has opened a legal case against the vote-monitoring group Golos.
The Justice Ministry accused Golos and its executive director of being engaged in political activity in Russia and receiving foreign funding but failing to declare itself as a "foreign agent."
Golos denied that it received any foreign funding in the period under consideration.
The move comes after a recent wave of much-criticized state inspections of Russia's nongovernmental organizations.
Under a law passed last year, NGOs operating in Russia are required to officially register as “foreign agents” if they receive financing from abroad.
Failure to do so carries a potential fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,000) for the organization and 300,000 rubles (about $9,500) for its executive director.
The Justice Ministry accused Golos and its executive director of being engaged in political activity in Russia and receiving foreign funding but failing to declare itself as a "foreign agent."
Golos denied that it received any foreign funding in the period under consideration.
The move comes after a recent wave of much-criticized state inspections of Russia's nongovernmental organizations.
Under a law passed last year, NGOs operating in Russia are required to officially register as “foreign agents” if they receive financing from abroad.
Failure to do so carries a potential fine of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,000) for the organization and 300,000 rubles (about $9,500) for its executive director.
