Election observers from NGOs registered under a new law as “foreign agents” must indicate their status openly, a deputy head of Russia’s Central Election Commission said on Tuesday.
“It is evident that organizations that receive foreign grants and, in line with Russian law, are to be registered as ‘foreign agents’ should also reflect that sphere of their activity when appointing observers to elections,” Leonid Ivlev told a press conference at RIA Novosti.
President Vladimir Putin in July signed into law a controversial bill which forces foreign-funded NGOs involved in politics to declare themselves “foreign agents.” The law will come into force in November.