MOSCOW, January 11. /TASS/. Representatives of observer organizations declared "foreign agents" will join a special monitoring group at elections this year, the Izvestia newspaper reported on Monday citing Mikhail Fedotov, who heads Russia’s presidential human rights council.
Under the law passed in July 2012, non-profit organizations which engage in "political activity" and receive funding from abroad are required to register as "foreign agents."
The elections in the country can be monitored by public organizations that are not "foreign agents." In order not to violate the law, the representatives of the "foreign agents" will join the group not as legal entities but as individuals.
"It is very important to note that the monitoring group of observer organizations will include those who will not politicize the process of controlling and monitoring the elections. This will be independent people who will give unbiased information aimed at assisting the protection of constitution rights of citizens," Fedotov told the newspaper.
The council will draw up recommendations for the monitoring group at a special meeting in March. It will also define the regions where the control over the monitoring group will be implemented by the members of the council and "foreign agents."
The elections to Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, will take place on September 18, 2016.