Russia's only independent polling agency says it may have to close after prosecutors described its opinion research as "political activity."
The Levada Center said on May 20 that it had received a letter from prosecutors who said that publishing polls on political subjects and the approval ratings of leaders amounted to political activity because it "forms public opinion about government policy in Russia."
The center said in a statement that the warning "puts in question the future existence" of the agency as it has not registered as a "foreign agent" in line with a law passed last year.
Critics have called the law, which requires groups with international funding to register as foreign agents, a crackdown on nongovernmental organizations.
Among other polls, the Levada Center has published research about the sliding approval ratings of President Vladimir Putin.
The Levada Center said on May 20 that it had received a letter from prosecutors who said that publishing polls on political subjects and the approval ratings of leaders amounted to political activity because it "forms public opinion about government policy in Russia."
The center said in a statement that the warning "puts in question the future existence" of the agency as it has not registered as a "foreign agent" in line with a law passed last year.
Critics have called the law, which requires groups with international funding to register as foreign agents, a crackdown on nongovernmental organizations.
Among other polls, the Levada Center has published research about the sliding approval ratings of President Vladimir Putin.
