ST.PETERSBURG, May 27. /TASS/. Russia’s Justice Ministry has pointed to the options for removing the Dynasty non-profit foundation from the register of "foreign agents" by filing a lawsuit or in connection with "a change in circumstances" in accordance with the law.
"We see no threat for the legal standing of this organization," Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov told reporters addressing the criticism of a number of human rights activists over including the NGO to the list.
According to Konovalov, "the judicial practice should assess not only the factors that are directly envisaged by the law, but also those that emerge in real life." "But now we hear just hysterical comments that this is a catastrophe and a failure, a pressure on the civil society. But as a lawyer, I do not agree with this," he said.
"An organization may be removed [from the register] upon a court decision if there is a respective lawsuit and if such a decision is taken on the whole vertical of the judicial power," the minister explained. "As for removal from the list due to a change in circumstances, this is also possible," Konovalov said.
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Now the Justice Ministry has received four such appeals that will be considered in accordance with the law, he said.
Russia’s Justice Ministry on Monday included the scientific and educational Dynasty Foundation of businessman Dmitry Zimin in the register of "foreign agents." The foundation uses the funds of Zimin from his foreign accounts.
Public figures and business representatives have launched an active campaign in support of the foundation. Famous Russian physicists Sergey Popov and Valery Rubakov, former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, ombudsman Ella Pamfilova and a member of the Civic Chamber Elena Topoleva-Soldunova have stressed the importance of the organization’s work.
The Dynasty Foundation seeks talented scientists and backs their ideas and projects in the natural and social sciences. The organization has 20 programs and projects in the sphere of the development of fundamental scientific research and education in Russia. Since 2002, Dynasty’s budget has reached almost $80 million, according to the organization’s report.