MOSCOW, May 24 (UPI) -- A Moscow court said Friday the March inspection of civil organization Memorial Human Rights Center was conducted legally.
Memorial's offices in Moscow were subjected to an unscheduled inspection March 26. The group protested to justice officials but a Moscow court ruled Friday the raid was legal, state news agency RIA Novosti reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in November enacted a controversial law that designates non-governmental organizations as "foreign agents" if they receive funding from a foreign government.
Moscow offices of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International were raided this year.
Putin defended the measure as part of an anti-corruption and transparency campaign. Human Rights Watch said more than 250 organizations like it were raided in Russia in recent months.
The Moscow rights group told RIA Novosti that inspectors with the Justice Ministry found the Memorial Human Rights Center received around $3.2 million in foreign funding before the law was enacted.
Prosecutors allege some funding may have targeted political activity meant to influence public opinion.
Rights groups have expressed concern about the crackdown on political freedom during Putin's tenure.
