I am new to this forum, and would welcome any thoughts or feedback.

M.

"The Russian government should reform regulations that are choking independent activism, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released Feb. 20. New laws and regulations giving the state broad authority to interfere with the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have been adopted in the context of growing authoritarianism in Russia. The 72-page report, "Choking on Bureaucracy: State Curbs on Independent Civil Society Activism," documents how these regulations have targeted various NGOs that work on controversial issues, seek to galvanize public dissent, or receive foreign funding. "With the new rules, NGOs live under a looming threat of harassment," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of HRW. "And this is a serious threat to freedom of expression in Russia." "