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Sakharov Center Fined For Violating 'Foreign Agents' Law


A Russian court has fined Moscow's Sakharov Center for not complying with the controversial "foreign agents" law.

A Moscow court fined the nongovernmental organization 400,000 rubles ($6,000) on September 30 for failing to label itself a "foreign agent" in one of its articles posted online.

In December 2014, the Sakharov Center was fined 300,000 ($4,550) for the same "violation."

A law adopted in 2012 requires any nongovernmental organization that receives funding from abroad and engages in political activity to formally register as a "foreign agent."

Amendments introduced to the law last year allow the Justice Ministry to forcefully add NGOs to the list of "foreign agents."

In July, the Justice Ministry warned 12 NGOs deemed as "foreign agents," including the Sakharov Center, saying they faced "administrative liability measures" -- fines severe enough to shut down almost any Russian NGO.

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS

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