Regional Public Organization 'Sakhalin Environment Watch'

The Sakhalin Environment Watch is an independent non-profit organization created to protect the natural ecosystems of the Sakhalin Region, its living natural resources and the environmental rights of citizens. The organization was founded in 1995 by Emma Wilson, a representative of the international non—governmental environmental organization Friends of the Earth-Japan. Sakhalin Environment Watch closely cooperates with state bodies, scientific institutions, Russian and international public environmental organizations.

The organization was recognized as a 'foreign agent' in 2015. To get rid of this status, the Sakhalin Environment Watch was forced to completely abandon foreign funding. In 2017, 'Sakhalin Environmental Watch' achieved delisting. However, they were re-listed in 2022.

Name

Field of activity

Environmental protection

Status

“Foreign agent” (NGO)

Reason for recognition

'Sakhalin Environmental Watch' was recognised as a 'foreign agent' after an inspection by the Ministry of Justice, which revealed that the organisation was engaged in political activities. The Ministry of Justice considered the organisation's work aimed at shaping public opinion 'in order to influence the decisions of government agencies, aimed at public resonance and attracting attention from the government agencies of the Sakhalin Region'. The decision does not mention foreign sources of funding.

Year of recognition

2015

Status description

Since 2012, such status can be obtained by non-profit organizations registered in Russia, and from 2020 unregistered public associations, which, according to the Russian government: a) receive foreign funding, b) participate in “political activity,” which is understood as any public activity. Who recognizes: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Responsibilities: NPO-"foreign agents” are required to provide a report on their activities, audit reports, and data on the organization’s personnel. In addition, they must submit to the Ministry of Justice a report on the goals and actual spending of funds, including those received from foreign sources. Unregistered public associations must provide the Ministry of Justice with a notice on receipt of funds from foreign sources and participation in political activities, as well as with a report on the funds received, purposes, and their actual use. Administrative liability: mentioning an NGO-"foreign agent” and an unregistered public association-foreign agent on the Internet or in the media—a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles. (Article 13.15 of the Code of Administrative Offences). failure to submit or untimely submission of reports—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles for an NCO-foreign agent (Article 19.7.5-2 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 30 thousand rubles for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the association produces or distributes materials without specifying that such association is a foreign agent—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles, for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 500 thousand rubles for an NGO-foreign agent (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if an employee, but not an association as a whole, distributes any materials and does not indicate that he/she is an employee of an NGO-foreign agent—a fine of five thousand rubles and for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), and for NGOs (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the organization operates but does not enter itself in the register of foreign agents—a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles for non-profit organizations (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the activities of the organization are suspended, but it continues to function—a fine for an unregistered public association for organizers up to two thousand rubles, and for participants—up to one thousand rubles, for an NGO-foreign agent—a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles for organizers and up to five thousand rubles for participants (Article 20.28 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Criminal liability: malicious evasion of reporting by registered NGOs and unregistered public associations recognized as foreign agents—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or imprisonment for up to two years (par.1 article 330.1 of the Criminal Code).

Ecologists and environmental organizations