MOSCOW -- The leader of a gay rights group in St. Petersburg, Russia has been fined for refusing to register as "a foreign agent.''
Anna Anisimova, the chairwoman of the Vykhod (Coming-Out) organization was fined 300,000 rubles ($9,100) on June 26 for violating the law requiring nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity to register as foreign agents.
The organization was fined 500,000 rubles ($15,200) on the same charge a week ago.
Vykhod's lawyer says they will appeal the court's decision, saying the organization is not involved in political activities.
Also on June 26, New-York based Human Rights Watch issued a statement criticizing Russian authorities for using the controversial legislation to "curtail a broad range of work" by nongovernmental organizations.
Anna Anisimova, the chairwoman of the Vykhod (Coming-Out) organization was fined 300,000 rubles ($9,100) on June 26 for violating the law requiring nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity to register as foreign agents.
MAPPED OUT: The Crackdown On NGOs In Russia
The organization was fined 500,000 rubles ($15,200) on the same charge a week ago.
Vykhod's lawyer says they will appeal the court's decision, saying the organization is not involved in political activities.
Also on June 26, New-York based Human Rights Watch issued a statement criticizing Russian authorities for using the controversial legislation to "curtail a broad range of work" by nongovernmental organizations.
