Slovakia passes law on NGOs amid criticism

Slovakian lawmakers passed a law on Wednesday requiring non-governmental organizations to disclose their funding sources and the names of major contributors.

The law introduces fines for those who fail to comply.

While populist Prime Minister Robert Fico presented the legislation as a move toward greater transparency, critics accused the law of restricting civil society institutions.

There were nationwide protests against the law earlier this month, with the government eventually scaling back some measures. 

Two weeks ago, thousands of demonstrators rallied against the measure in the capital, Bratislava, and other cities.

Slovakia's controversial NGO law

Opposition groups say the law they dubbed the "Russian law" could be used to silence critics.

"We call it a Russian law not because it is a copy of the Russian one but it was inspired by Russia and in variety with the constitution and EU law," said Katarina Batkova, director of Via Iuris, one of the oldest civil society organizations in the country.

Lawmakers loyal to Fico made last-minute concessions

Before the final vote, the government removed some of the more controversial proposals included in the bill, including a provision to label NGOs as "lobbyist groups" and "foreign agents" following criticism from the European Commission.

"This law is neither Russian nor American, but clearly European," Fico later said during a parliamentary debate.

A similar bill was passed last year by Georgian lawmakers and the move saw protests take place both before and after the passage of the bill.

There too, critics drew parallels to the Russian law that has been in force since 2012 and that has been used by the Kremlin to clamp down on dissidents.

Big protests against tightening control over NGOs 

Since December, the Slovak government has seen numerous waves of protests because of its Russia-friendly politics.

Unless vetoed by newly elected President Peter Pellegrini, the law is expected to take effect on June 1.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar