Human rights group critical of Russia

MOSCOW, June 16 (UPI) -- Human Rights Watch filed a report Wednesday calling for reform of the laws and practices regulating non-governmental organizations in Russia.

Russia's interference into these groups stifles independent civic activism, the 68-page report, "An Uncivil Approach to Civil Society: Continuing State Curbs on Independent NGOs and Activists in Russia," said.

A growing authoritarianism in Russia places pressure on independent organizations and activists, the report said. Some laws are the subject of a working group convened in May 2009 by President Dmitri Medvedev. Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, called this "the first step to break from the increasingly authoritarian approach to civil society over the past nine years."

Cartner said she hopes this is the beginning of real change.

Current laws burden non-governmental organizations with regulations and red tape, and create a negative climate for them to work in, including concern about specious lawsuits.