MORE NGOS RE-REGISTERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 012310 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR MKLECHESKI E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV PREF EAID KDEM RS SUBJECT: MORE NGOS RE-REGISTERED Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Russell. Reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The re-registration of foreign NGOs is continuing apace, with 148 approved by the backlogged Federal Registration Service. A majority of U.S. NGOs known to the Embassy are re-registered, with Human Rights Watch expecting approval any day. In the North Caucasus, the FRS and tax authorities are enforcing the ban on external activities by groups whos status is pending, but disruptions in assistance programs are minimal. To date, the filing of annual reports by re-registered NGOs has not precipitated complaints, but this process is in its preliminary phase. We expect that registrations will continue, but re-registration is only the first step, and there could be further complicatons that may require further Embassy intervention with the FRS and other agences. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The Federal Registration Service (FRS) has re-registered 148 foreign NGOs as of November 3, with another 41 applications under consideration and 25 others returned for revision. Five NGOs have been refused but the FRS has provided no further information, and we do not believe any of them are American. The last-minute submissions of many NGOs have left the agency with a slight backlog. FRS staff has told several NGOs to stop calling about the status of their applications and that they are working through them as quickly as possible. According to some NGO contacts, the FRS is reviewing applications in chronological order of submission and is currently up to those submitted October 16. ¶3. (SBU) Of the 29 NGOs being tracked by USAID, 17 have been re-registered and 12 are still awaiting a decision. Of the four NGOs supported by PRM, and included in USAID's tracking, CARE Canada was registered November 3 while the other three -- International Medical Corps, World Vision, and International Rescue Committee -- are still awaiting a decision. Separately, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are awaiting decisions, but Human Rights Watch has been told it could be re-registered any day now. ¶4. (C) NGO contacts in the North Caucasus have told us that law enforcement and tax authorities have visited various NGOs to check their registration status and to ascertain if they have suspended their activities. The Federal Security Service denied authorization for World Vision and Action Contre la Faim staff to enter Chechnya because neither has been re-registered. The FSB has said that access to Chechnya will only be granted to NGOs that can produce a valid copy of their registration from the FRS. UN and NGO contacts have told us that thus far, enough NGOs have been re-registered and the duration of the suspension has been limited so that disruptions in humanitarian aid programs have been minimal. ¶5. (SBU) The October 31 deadline for submitted annual program reports passed relatively quietly. Under revised guidelines issued by the FRS, these reports are due within 30 days after an NGO is re-registered. About half of those already re-registered have submitted them but have kept program descriptions to a minimum while waiting for FRS to revise the reporting procedures. Two new issues have emerged, however. Some NGOs have reported that the FRS and the tax service have registered them under different formulations of their name. Despite assurances from the FRS these name changes would be coordinated with the tax service, this does not seem to be the case, and it could lead to bureaucratic headaches. Others have told us that there are potential visa problems for expat staff because the new law no longer allows the Registration Chamber, the entity formerly responsible for providing accreditation to NGOs, to sponsor visas for these organizations, and new sponsors need to be found. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: We expect that additional registrations will continue in the next several days and that most NGOs will resume their activities without too much disruption. The backlog that has built up is a function of last-minute submissions and the FRS' limited experience in dealing with foreign NGOs. Most NGOs do not seem too worried about the prospects of the initial reporting requirements but the FRS has not yet completed the reporting guidelines or begun reviewing the reports. The visa and tax issues are typical of the lack of coordination within the Russian bureaucracy and may require further Embassy intervention with the FRS and other agencies. We will continue to follow up. END COMMENT. BURNS