The Assembly of the Republic of Srpska on the law on "foreign agents"

Proposal for a law on a special register and publicity of the work of non-profit organizations, also known in the public as "foreign agents" law, is on the agenda of the session National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska (RS) which will continue today.

The law envisages special surveillance and the possibility of a work ban for non-governmental organizations that are financed from abroad, a ban on political activities, the need for additional registration and the sending of financial reports, he recalled. Radio Free Europe.

It defines as "agents of foreign influence" non-profit organizations that help foreign subjects, and that deal with political action or political activities, influencing public opinion, and those that "violate the integrity and Constitution of the Republic of Srpska".

That proposed law was included in the agenda at the beginning of the session of the Republika Srpska parliament on May 22, despite the call of 46 non-governmental organizations to the deputies not to vote for the law, because of which everyone "who fights for human rights and against corruption" will be attacked.

On the same day, the performance "Death to Democracy" was held, during which representatives of non-governmental organizations tried to point out the perniciousness of adopting the law by symbolically displaying the coffin and dressed in black.

In a letter dated May 20, the OSCE mission warned that the law is in contradiction with the constitutions of the RS and BiH and with the country's international obligations to respect human rights.

The National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopted the draft law on September 28 last year, which was criticized by the public, the non-governmental sector and international organizations.