Government commission backs harsher punishments for extremismA government commission has approved a Justice Ministry sponsored bill increasing punishment for extremist activity and religious organizations, reads a statement on the Governments website.12:11 28.05.2013
Russian NGOs reluctant to register as foreign agentsNot a single Russian NGO financed from abroad and engaged in political activity has registered as a "foreign agent" since the new NGO law came into force, a Justice Ministry official stated in the State Duma on Wednesday.16:24 15.05.2013
Russian convicts will be sent to prisons on shorter termsPrison sentences will be shorter than sentences served in penal colonies, but it will not be an easy ride, Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov said at a briefing on Wednesday.14:08 15.05.2013
Justice Ministry may ask court to shut down voters' rights associationThe Justice Ministry will ask the courts to shut down the Golos voters' rights association if it fails to register as a foreign agent by an approved deadline, says Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov.12:23 15.05.2013
New case opened against voters' rights associationThe Justice Ministry has opened a new administrative offense case against the Golos association in defense of voters' rights, the ministry reported on its website on Monday.15:09 13.05.2013
Over 30 NGOs banned for extremism in Russia in past 11 yearsOver 30 NGOs have been banned for extremism in Russia over the past 11 years following court rulings based on the corresponding law, the Justice Ministry reported on Wednesday.18:44 08.05.2013
Russia to compile list of extremist symbols forbidden to useRussia will compile a list of extremist symbols that are prohibited for use by NGOs and companies as brand names, the Izvestia daily reported on Wednesday.13:36 08.05.2013
Election monitoring NGO refuses to register as foreign agentThe Golos Association, a non-profit voters' rights group, has refused to call itself a foreign agent as required by the new NGOs law, RAPSI reported from the Presnensky Court on Thursday.12:43 25.04.2013
Bar associations claim Justice Ministry views them as NGOsThe Justice Ministry's regional branches view bar associations as NGOs, and they are trying to find "foreign agents" among them, according to the resolution of the Sixth National Conference of Lawyers, which was held in Moscow on Monday.17:30 22.04.2013
NGO inspections fail to uncover elements of extremismThe Justice Ministry's inspections of NGOs have not revealed elements of extremism, says Justice Ministry NGO Department Deputy Chief Tatyana Vahgin.14:49 15.04.2013
Over 7,300 inspections of NGOs planned this year - Justice MinistryThe Justice Ministry will conduct over 7,300 planned inspections of NGOs in 2013, according to a report posted on the ministry's website.10:43 10.04.2013
Election monitoring NGO in trouble over foreign financingThe Justice Ministry has launched proceedings in the administrative case against the Golos association, an NGO for the protection of voters rights.17:54 09.04.2013
Justice Ministry to simplify compensation for poor detention conditionshe Justice Ministry has proposed allowing suspects and convicts to demand monetary compensation for poor conditions in custody and prisons, even in cases where the responsible officials have not been proven guilty.12:32 09.04.2013
Foreign financing amount for NGOs unclear - Justice MinistryThe Justice Ministry does not have information regarding how much financing Russian NGOs receive from abroad, First Deputy Justice Minister Alexander Smirnov told RIA Novosti on Friday.17:42 05.04.2013
Number of convicts in Russia down considerably over four yearsThe number of convicts in Russian prisons has decreased considerably over the past few years, a Justice Ministry official said on Friday.14:35 05.04.2013
State Duma to consider bill banning non-procedural motionsA bill has been submitted to the State Duma aimed at banning non-procedural motions, according to a government resolution posted online on Thursday.13:11 04.04.2013
Russian tycoon to be released from Cambodian prison under restrictionReal estate magnate Sergei Polonsky will be released from prison in Cambodia soon, but he will be required to stay in the country, State Duma Deputy Alexei Chepa, a Russia-Cambodia Commission member, told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.17:33 02.04.2013
Authorities raid German NGOs in Moscow and St. PetersburgLocal authorities raided the offices of two German NGOs in Moscow and St. Petersburg on Tuesday for the second time in a week.13:44 27.03.2013
Russian Justice Ministry launches large-scale audit of NGOsRussian NGOs are being investigated to ensure their activities comply with their charters, the Justice Ministry said on Monday. In the event that violations are detected, the ministry will take action as prescribed by the law.17:16 25.03.2013
Justice Minister to chair commission on free legal aidPrime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has approved the nomination of Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov as chair of the government commission on free legal aid.12:45 20.03.2013