Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal)COPENHAGEN, 24 March 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today criticized the continued official targeting of civil society organizations in Russia, exemplified by the fine levied against the Sakharov Center this week.

"The Sakharov Center plays a crucial role in commemorating and educating about Soviet-era repression. How sadly ironic is it, then, that the Center itself has been branded with the Soviet-era 'foreign agent' label and now fined for resisting that label? I also lament the targeting and fining of the Regional Press Institute and other civil society organizations that may be forced to close due to financial pressure. These developments underscore that Russia must repeal its foreign agent law and recognize NGOs as one of the best parts of a democratic society," Santos said.

"Grants from abroad are often a lifeline for civil society organizations when there are such limited funding opportunities at home. The Sakharov Center, like many such organizations, is also transparent about its donors, listing them on its website. It appears that the only unhealthy political activity going on here is not the Center's work, but the targeting of that work," she added.

On 23 March, a Moscow court fined the Sakharov Center 300,000 rubles (4,700 euros) for failing to register as a foreign agent under the Federal Law on Non-Commercial Organizations. The Regional Press Institute also reported this week that it was fined 400,000 rubles (6,300 euros) by a St. Petersburg court for the same reason.

Santos has previously called on Russia to reevaluate draconian policies toward civil society.