COPENHAGEN, 27 June 2013 (FRE | RUS | TR)– In its first voting session since Russia adopted a law requiring civil society organizations who receive foreign funding to register as foreign agents, the OSCE PA will consider this month a resolution aimed at changing the Russian law.

Ingrid de Caluwé (Netherlands) has introduced the resolution, co-sponsored by 25 parliamentarians from 13 different countries, which urges Russian authorities to engage in a constructive dialogue with NGOs to reform elements of the legislation that was adopted last November.

"The foreign agent law is suffocating civil society," de Caluwé said. "Russia's recent legislation goes against their OSCE commitments in the human dimension, and our proposal acts on the hope we all have that the Russian Duma will make sure the legislation will be brought back in line with those commitments." The resolution will be voted on at the Annual Session of the OSCE PA in Istanbul starting 29 June.

The resolution also recommends authorities engage with the OSCE on a broad range of issues, including through a possible OSCE field presence, and reverse their decision to remove United States development assistance from the country. The measure also urges the European Union to help to secure the continuity of Russia's civil society.

The OSCE has observed nine elections in Russia since 1993, most recently the 2012 presidential election. The resolution calls on the authorities to engage with the OSCE on electoral reform issues before the next elections.

Resolutions adopted at the Annual Session along with the Istanbul Declaration help to shape OSCE and national policy. The Annual Session, including committee debates and votes, are open to the press and public.