Angela Merkel tells Vladimir Putin - Russia needs NGOs

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for Russia to give a chance to non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

She spoke during a visit to Germany by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has backed a series of investigations into foreign-funded NGOs.
The apparent crackdown has drawn widespread international criticism.
In an interview on German television, President Putin said Russians had a right to know which NGOs were receiving foreign funds "and for what".
Russia passed a law last year requiring all NGOs that receive overseas funding to register as "foreign agents".
It was one of several controversial laws adopted in the aftermath of pro-democracy protests in Moscow.
Mrs Merkel's comments were followed by loud applause. Outside the trade fair, protesters rallied in support of NGOs.
In recent weeks senior EU officials have voiced concern as checks by Russian tax inspectors and prosecutors on foreign-funded NGOs multiplied.
At least two German NGOs - the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in St Petersburg and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in Moscow - were among those searched.
The KAS think tank is linked to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, while the FES is close to Germany's main opposition Social Democrats.
Mr Putin has accused the NGOs of meddling in politics on behalf of foreign powers.
A number of prominent Russian groups say that being labelled as "foreign agents" is insulting, and harks back to Stalin-era purges.