EU denounces Russian ‘treason’ law

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, issued the following statement on the 26 October 2012 'The High Representative ... is concerned by the adoption of the Law on treason in the Russian State Duma on 23 October 2012'.

In March 2013 the Financial Times reported that dozens of non-profit organisations were raided by authorities across Russia in a renewed crackdown described by one Moscow human rights worker as a 'shock-and-awe campaign' against foreign funding of civil society groups.

German officials were not happy, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle's office saying that interfering in their work could create 'a sustained effect on bilateral relations'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Kremlin moves against foreign-backed NGOs http://www.europeansources.info/record/kremlin-moves-against-foreign-backed-ngos/

ESO: Background information: Kremlin intensifies crackdown on dissent http://www.europeansources.info/record/kremlin-intensifies-crackdown-on-dissent/

EU: EEAS: Press Release, A473/12: Statement by the Spokesperson of High Representative on the new law on treason in Russia http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/133204.pdf

BBC News, 24.10.12: Russia's lower house votes to broaden high treason laws http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20048630

Spiegel Online International, 26.03.13: A Threat to Relations: Germany Irate over Russian NGO Raids http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/russian-authorities-raid-german-foundations-and-ngos-a-890969.html

Reuters, 26.03.13: Germany warns Russia tax "raids" on NGOs may harm ties http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/26/uk-germany-russia-idUKBRE92P12G20130326

Deutsche Welle, 12.07.13: NGOs in Russia refuse 'agents' label http://www.dw.de/ngos-in-russia-refuse-agents-label/a-16947586

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