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