Penza, 13 July 2012. PenzaNews. The new law providing the status of “foreign agents” to Russian non-commercial organizations, which are involved in political activities and receive funding from abroad, was adopted on July 13. The bill is the best option of the legal act regulating the activities of non-commercial organizations, said Nikolay Makarov, deputy of the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation from the Penza region, in an interview with news agency “PenzaNews.”

“The document, developed by taking into account the socio-political situation in Russia, the world experience and the position of the United Russia faction, clearly formulates status of non-commercial organizations,” he emphasized.

According to Nikolay Makarov, the activities of non-commercial organizations that are funded from abroad should be transparent.

“Every Russian citizen should have a clear understanding of what these organizations do, on which funds they exist and which goals they pursue. With regard to politics, it is extremely important,” he stated.

A group of seven deputies from the ruling United Russia party submitted the draft of law on non-commercial organizations to the Russian Duma on June 29, 2012. In accordance with the law, Russian non-commercial organizations that act as a foreign agent will be added to a special register. They will have to undergo an annual financial audit and provide biannual reports on their activities. Failure to comply would bring fines of up to 1 million rubles and criminal responsibility – up to 4 years imprisonment.