Czech criticized for copying Russian practices, drafting "Kremlin-style" bill
Politico reported that Czech opposition, non-governmental organizations and scholars accuse the new government led by Andrej Babiš of drafting a "Russian-style" law to suppress dissent by strengthening transparency of foreign funding sources for non-governmental organizations. The Czech cabinet insisted that the move is only to improve transparency and plans to establish a public register of subsidies. Czech Foreign Minister Peter Vrábel stated that the initiative will be implemented.
According to the leaked draft, the Czech Republic plans to establish a database of non-governmental organizations associated with foreign countries, requiring them to report in detail on their activities, personnel and funding sources; they do not need to self-label as "foreign-funded organizations". Fines range from 1 million to 15 million Czech koruna.
Critics include former Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, European Parliament member Danuše Nerudová and human rights activists, who called the bill a "totalitarian plan," warning that this move would lead to stigmatization and carry the risk of selective pressure. The Ministry of Justice distanced itself from the leaked draft content, Babiš denied being compared to Russia, and Vrábel refuted the accusations. After causing public outrage, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura, said that the final text will be revised and improved by the relevant authorities before being submitted to parliament.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860108691021824/
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