Slovakia introduces stricter regulations for non-governmental organizations
The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused nongovernmental organizations of planning to escalate public protests against his government’s policies.
On Wednesday, Slovakia’s parliament approved a law tightening reporting and other requirements for NGOs.
The new statute mandates that NGOs disclose their donors, publish extensive lists of officials, and imposes fines for administrative errors.
Organizations affected by the legislation have criticized it as a “Russian law” used by the government to target critics in the civil sector, drawing comparisons between Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fico’s government has frequently accused NGOs of backing liberal opposition parties and foreign interests, particularly those funded by George Soros’ foundation.
Despite Fico’s claims that NGOs are planning public protests, they deny the accusation.
“Non-governmental organizations operate in a gray area, engaging in politics, receiving money from various sources worldwide, with unclear intentions,” said Richard Glück, a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic for the SMER-SSD party, during a press conference.
Fico’s party initially proposed broader changes, such as categorizing NGOs as “organizations with foreign support,” like those in Russia or Georgia, arousing concern from the European Commission.
NGOs have criticized the law, citing concerns of intimidation, potential breaches of constitutional rights, and conflicting with European Court of Justice decisions.
The move by the Slovak government aligns with a trend in Europe of increased scrutiny on NGO activities and funding.
In neighboring Georgia, parliament passed a bill banning foreign donor organizations from providing grants without government approval, sparking controversies and concerns about constraints on civil society.
Similarly, Hungary has also shown suspicion towards NGOs, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressing intentions to eliminate organizations and media outlets receiving international funding.
Orban’s statements included plans to enforce transparency on foreign funding for these organizations and impose sanctions against those involved in influencing Hungarian politics.
