Putin sees rise in 'subversive funding' from abroad

The inflow of capital used to interfere in Russia's internal affairs has been growing, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. "Let's face it, not everyone is pleased with our country's stable, ongoing development. Some [elements] are disingenuously using pseudo-democratic rhetoric and would like to put the clock back - some, to continue plundering our national wealth as they did in the past, robbing the people and state, and others to deprive our country of its economic and political independence," he said in his annual state of the nation address to the Russian parliament.

MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti) - The inflow of capital used to interfere in Russia's internal affairs has been growing, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

"Let's face it, not everyone is pleased with our country's stable, ongoing development. Some [elements] are disingenuously using pseudo-democratic rhetoric and would like to put the clock back - some, to continue plundering our national wealth as they did in the past, robbing the people and state, and others to deprive our country of its economic and political independence," he said in his annual state of the nation address to the Russian parliament.

"There is a growing inflow of funds from abroad that are being use to interfere in our domestic affairs," Putin said.

He said certain interest groups are using dirty technology, stirring up interethnic and religious strife in the country.

He asked the Federal Assembly to expedite the passage of amendments to existing laws imposing tighter penalties for 'extremist actions.'

A law on Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) prohibits such organizations from using foreign funds for political purposes. Foreign funded NGOs were crucial players in 'color revolutions' in Georgia in 2003 and Ukraine in 2004.

The Russian government has faced criticism from Western leaders for restrictions imposed on rights groups and NGOs operating in the country, and the issue is often cited as an example of Russia's alleged backsliding on democracy.

Last week, documents were confiscated from the Moscow office of a U.S.-based NGO as part of a probe opened in January against two Internews staff members.

The raid sparked fears of a possible clampdown on foreign connected NGOs ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections under a restrictive law adopted last year.

A criminal probe was launched in January after British national Jillian McCormack and Russia's Manana Aslamazyan were detained in the "green channel" at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in possession of excessive undeclared foreign currency.

Investigators said the women were carrying some $27,000, while Russian law allows up to $10,000 per person to be brought in undeclared.