"We are not agents. All our decisions are taken only by ourselves. We continue to reject to obey the law to foreign agents. Law is a repressive instrument to further restrict the rights of citizens," Vladimir Sliwjak, chairman of Ecodefense , opposite the taz. At the same time Sliwjak announced that his organization would appeal against the verdict.
The law on NGOs is extremely controversial: It requires all organizations that engage in political activities and receive funds from abroad, an entry in a register of foreign agents. The reported groups are obliged to point it out to all publications it - so materials such as brochures must now carry the designation "foreign agent".
Ecodefense had made it clear after the law was passed two years ago that they would never willingly enter into the "foreign agents" tab. The punishment followed on foot: In July 2014, the Ministry of Justice strained proceedings against Ecodefense because they had failed to register as agents, and let the group enter as just such.
From the perspective of environmentalists, the Justice Department wants to punish the group for their actions against the planned nuclear power plant in Kaliningrad. In June last year, the actions of Ecodefense and the pressure of population led to a halt to construction of the nuclear power plant. Also the campaign of nuclear opponents for Russia's accession to the Aarhus Convention is the Ministry of Justice appears to be a thorn in the international agreement gives each person in Environmental Protection. It writes in environmental matters for public participation mandatory before.
The judgment against the nuclear power opponents of Ecodefense is in line with the actions of the Russian authorities against other unpopular NGOs: Just days after the organization "Soldiers' Mothers of St. Petersburg" hundreds in Ukraine injured and ten there killed Russian soldiers had reported said the Justice Department to these foreign agents.
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