Russia labels media freedom NGO “foreign agent”

The Russian Ministry of Justice has added the non-governmental organisation Glasnost Defence Foundation (GDF) to its list of “foreign agents”.

The GDF works to defend journalists, journalism, and freedom of expression in Russia.

According to a statement made by the Ministry yesterday, the ruling was made following an “unscheduled inspection”. Moscow-based radio station Ekho Moskvy reported that the GDF said it would appeal the decision and continue in its work.

A Russian law passed in 2012 requires any organisation that receives funding from abroad and is engaged in “political activity” to register as a “foreign agent”. Under amendments to the law adopted last year, the authorities are able to forcibly register NGOs as “foreign agents”.

Source: The Moscow Times