Russia's Crackdown on NGOs Includes Some Unexpected Targets

A preliminary list of 12 nongovernmental organizations that could be banned from working in Russia under a "patriotic stop list" includes a number of large U.S. foundations as well as smaller groups that would seem to be unlikely targets, the New York Times reports.

Signed into law by Russian president Vladimir V. Putin in May, the measure authorizes prosecutors to shut down foreign NGOs that are deemed to be engaged in "undesirable" activity posing a threat to Russia. The list of organizations sent last week to the prosecutor-general and justice and foreign ministries for potential designation as "undesirable" includes seven U.S.-based institutions—Freedom House; the MacArthur, Mott, and Open Society foundations; the International Republican and National Democratic institutes; and the National Endowment for Democracy.