Russia Moves to Loosen Restrictions on Nonprofit Groups

Dmitri A. Medvedev, president of Russia, has proposed legislation to loosen restrictions on civic organizations and charities, The New York Times reports.

Mr. Medvedev said on Wednesday that civic groups in Russia were “burdened by pounds of regulations” and said the new legislation would get rid of some of the bureaucracy involved in registering the organizations. He said it would also limit inspections by government agencies and reduce penalties imposed on the groups for mistakes in paperwork.

Russian human-rights groups have long criticized the country’s government for impeding civic development but were cautiously welcoming of the news.

They warned, however, that the proposed measures would ease restrictions for only about 30 percent of Russia’s nonprofit groups and would not apply to any organization that received money from foreign donors.

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