ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the functioning of foreign-funded NGOs in Russia. Foreign aid to developing and transitional countries is an important segment of international relations. However, how significant is this subject for Russia? Prior to the introduction of the law on NGOs in 2006, there were no official government data available on the number of such organisations operating in this country. The nature of these organisations' activity was also unknown. The head of Russia's Federal Registration Service Sergey Movchan declared in October 2005 that his institution could not estimate how many nongovernmental and non-commercial organisations funded by external donors are active in Russia. He claimed that the number varied between 250 and 500. 1 Comprehensive analysis of Russia's NGOs financial structure conducted by the independent Zircon group suggests that the number of foreign-funded NGOs in Russia is not large. NGOs normally draw their funds from domestic supplies. Indeed, 19 per cent of total funds emanate from the NGOs commercial activity; 13 per cent stem from the contributions made by Russian companies; 13 per cent originate from membership fees; and as much as 25 per cent come from federal, regional and municipal institutions. Only 11 per cent are channelled through various foreign donations (Zircon 2008).
