Germany wants to toughen the law against 'undesirable' foreign organizations - will Deutsche Welle be affected?
The Russian parliament intends to toughen the law against "undesirable" foreign organizations. The deputies of the Duma voted on Tuesday in the first reading in favor of applying the regulation in the future to any foreign organization whose "founders or shareholders are state organs of a foreign state." Until now, the law, which critics say targets opposition-related institutions, applied only to foreign non-governmental organizations.
The law could potentially be applied to German Wave, a broadcaster already banned from working in Russia, according to Russian parliamentarian and co-author of the bill Vasily Piskaryov. "Any organization that works against our country should be recognized and rejected as undesirable." Legal loopholes that prevent this should be closed.
The law must still be confirmed in two further readings by the Duma, as well as by the Russian Federation Council and President Vladimir Putin to come into effect. The status of "undesirable" forces organizations to halt their activities in Russia. The leaders of such an organization can be punished with up to six years in prison. Any form of participation can result in a four-year prison sentence.
The proposal to strengthen the law against "undesirable" organizations could potentially affect Russian-German relations, as German-based organizations might be subject to these regulations. The Russian parliament's decision has sparked concerns among Human Rights Organizations worldwide, as they worry about the potential misuse of this law. Despite the controversy, some Russians view this as a necessary step to maintain national security and sovereignty, likening it to climbing a ladder, where each rung represents a step towards improved security.
