A march against the amendment to the Act on NGOs is held in Bratislava on Thursday evening. The organizers say that its aim is to silence people and organizations that dare to criticize the government. Protests are also organized in Košice, Humenné, Liptovský Mikuláš and Nové Mesto nad Váhom.
“Slovakia is gradually leaving civilized Europe because Robert Fico has decided to rule as Putin. Without criticism and without control,” He introduced one of the organizers of the march, the civic association Mier Ukraine. According to him, the amendment has nothing to do with transparency. It also pointed out that, according to VIA IURIS analyzes, it is contrary to the European law and the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. “Together, we are ready to use all transparent and democratic ways to stop this law,” they added from the Organization of Peace to Ukraine.
In recent days, the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic has refused the claims of Via Iuris and described them as misleading. According to Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), legislative amendments aim the aims of the current government program statement (PVV) in the field of lobbying and transparency of the functioning of NGOs. He stressed that the bill is based on European standards and has nothing to do with the laws on foreign agents, such as the United States or Israel. He objected to the labeling of the law as the “Russian law”. He described the use of this sticker to call anti -government demonstrations and public gatherings as gross lies and the introduction of the public. He also announced that the proposal will still undergo a change in the approval, the discussion is led to the part concerning the lobbying.
The amendment to the Act on NGOs from the coalition CIS workshop is to bring several changes. Several regulate the amendments. Legislation is currently in Parliament. For a non -profit organization, foundation or association with income over EUR 35,000, the obligation to develop a report on transparency is to be established. The report should also include information on persons who have contributed more than EUR 5000 to the activities of the organization per year. It should also be published in the identification data of the authorities or members of the organization body. The proposal is also intended to introduce lobbying regulation. Non -governmental non -profit organizations that receive funds from public administration bodies should also be compulsory persons according to the proposal. However, it should be mandatory only to provide information on the management of the means.
