President Vladimir Putin
Staraia Ploschad, 4
Moscow, 103132
Russia
By fax: +7-095-206-2624; 206-0766
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,
I am writing to express my grave concern over a bill entitled 'Amendments to Several Laws of the Russian Federation', which passed its first reading in the State Duma on November 23. If enacted, the law would put Russian NGOs at grave risk of increased official interference in their work, and foreign and international NGOs would be shut down their offices. As a result, the continuation of important NGO work in areas such as public health, education, human rights, culture and the environment, would be threatened.
As Russia prepares to assume the chairmanship of the G-8, I expect it to make a special effort to respect its international obligations. Yet numerous provisions of the proposed law violate international human rights standards. I therefore respectfully urge you to speak out against this law publicly, to express support for an independent civil society, and to veto the bill should parliament adopt it.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR SIGNATURE HERE]
