MOSCOW, December 27 (RIA Novosti) - The upper house of the Russian parliament approved the bill on non-government organizations at its final session this year Tuesday.
According to Viktor Shudegov, head of the Federation Council's committee on culture, science and education, the document sets out registration requirements for NGOs and non-profit organizations.
"When the law has come into force, [existing] NGOs will not have to be re-registered," Shudegov said.
Branches and representative offices of foreign NGOs will have to obtain registration from a single federal registration body "in the form of a notification", he said.
Foreign NGO branches in Russia will have to report on their programs, the amount of their financing and the organizations they deal with in Russia.
"As to the public organizations that do not act as legal entities in Russia, they will not have to obtain registration in the form of a notification," Shudegov said.
The final version does not allow the registration body to exercise financial control over non-profit organizations. The bill also allows NGOs to appeal against decisions to shut them down to a court of law, as well to the Justice Ministry, the government and other instances.
"Simultaneously, the bill stipulates restrictions on foreign NGOs' activities in classified Russian territories," Shudegov said.
Foreigners and stateless individuals "legally staying in Russia" can found or be members of NGOs, according to Shudegov.
The bill had stirred up harsh criticism from the West, which said the bill would hamper the activities of foreign NGOs, including humanitarian and rights groups, in Russia. Russian officials argued control over foreign NGOs in western countries was much more stringent.
However, President Putin ordered amendments to the bill. The lower house, the State Duma, passed the amended bill in its final reading December 23.
The Federation Council is now expected to submit the bill to the president for signing.
