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Russian Justice Ministry Brands Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation a
'Foreign Agent'

RFE/RL

   Russia's Justice Ministry has branded opposition leader Alexei
   Navalny's nonprofit Anti-Corruption Foundation a "foreign agent" under
   a 2012 law that was widely criticized by the West for stigmatizing
   groups with the designation.

   Navalny quickly rejected the ministry's Wednesday announcement, saying
   Russian authorities fear his foundation (FBK) because of the evidence
   of corruption it digs up on them.

   "We demand that the Justice Ministry publicly explain to everyone and
   provide evidence that the FBK has received at least one penny of
   foreign money," Navalny said in a tweet.

   "The actions of the Ministry of Justice are absolutely illegal and,
   obviously, by direct order of [President Vladimir] Putin'¦ Putin is
   terribly afraid of FBK. After all, he relies on the power of thieves,
   bribe takers and corrupt officials. And we expose corruption. And we
   will not stop no matter what," he added.

   The designation subjects the Anti-Corruption Foundation to the same
   requirements as foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations under
   which they must apply for inclusion in a government register, and
   submit regular reports covering their sources of funding, their
   objectives, how they spend their money, and who their managers are.

   Signs of a nonprofit organization "performing the functions of a
   foreign agent were established during an investigation of its
   activities," the ministry said in its statement.

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