Putin made this statement at a meeting with members of the Council for the Development of Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights, Wednesday.
Noviye Izvestia and Vremya Novostei asked well-known Russian political scientists for their views on the statement.
Dmitry Oreshkin, head of the Merkator think-tank, said, "How public organizations are funded is none of the state's business. Terrorist organizations are one thing. However, charity, religious and scientific organizations are another matter. This is how it is throughout the world. There is a clear trend: the authorities increasingly fear foreign countries."
Lev Ponomarev, executive director of the For Human Rights movement, said, "Putin is absolutely right if he is talking about foreign appropriations for political parties. But if he means the political activities of public organizations, then such an interpretation could destroy, rather than strengthen, Russian civil society. Russia's human rights organizations obtain 90-95% of their funding from abroad and would be forced to fold in the new conditions."
Valentina Melnikova, executive secretary of the Union of Soldiers' Mothers Committees, said, "The Union of Soldiers' Mothers Committees is not a political organization. It is an association of public organizations. However, we have long been reproached for receiving foreign funding. It would be a disaster if foreign assistance were suddenly cut off, as Russian businessmen do not finance non-commercial projects, especially since the conviction of former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Alexander Auzan, president of the Public Contract Institute, said, "The president has logically proclaimed that which will strengthen the Russian Constitution and in no way meant a ban on funding non-commercial activities."
