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As RT found out, the national endowment for democracy, NED funded by the Federal American Agency USAID, in 2016 allocated activists in Russia more than $10 million the Money went to the implementation of 108 projects on the territory of Russia. Documents NED says the grants are aimed at fighting corruption, support of minorities and the protection of human rights. Recipient names are not disclosed.
Fighters with corruption
National endowment for democracy (National Endowment for Democracy, NED), which operates on the American taxpayers ‘ money, allocated last year more than $10 million for 108 projects in Russia. This amount has doubled compared to the year 2015: then NED sent Russian activists, human rights defenders and Champions of corruption $4.7 million for 77 projects.
As noted in the report of the Fund, in 2016, the NED provided more than $53 thousand on a project to support the anti-corruption website, the name of which is not specified in the lists of grantees.
It was assumed that the money grant recipients had to do the following:
“To strengthen public control over public officials and to more actively engage citizens in anti-corruption activities. Maintain a website dedicated to the fight against corruption. Among the activities include publication on the website information about specific examples of corruption among local officials and dissemination of information on combating corruption”, — reported on the Foundation’s website.
It is noteworthy that a separate grant was allocated for the publication of facts about corruption (nearly $40 thousand). The money was supposed to go on “raising the awareness of the Russian society about the problem of corruption.”
“There will be a series of events aiming to bring to public attention information about examples of corruption in Russia”, — stated in the documents of the Fund.
NED was allocated about $45 million on a anti-corruption website in 2014. In 2015 the initiative has also taken place in the report of the Foundation — then the website took more than $53 thousand
Just anti-corruption projects in 2016, the Foundation has allocated nearly $240 thousand
In Russia, the fight against corruption on a voluntary basis involved a number of NGOs, the Fund, Transparency International and other activists. One of the most cited recent anti-corruption projects — the Fund of struggle against corruption (FBK), which is headed by the oppositionist Alexei Navalny.
In 2015, the FCO has released a film about the business of children Prosecutor General of Russia Yuri Chaika. Then the attorney General called custom publishing and was accused of funding the film convict in Russia investor William Browder.
Earlier this year the FCO has published a film about the Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, who was accused of corruption. On March 26 Russian cities, rallies were held, including an unsanctioned protest in Moscow, where, according to official estimates, there were about 8 thousand people.
On request RT in FBC is not answered.
Grants to minorities and website on human rights
According to the report for the year 2016, the NED allocated $3.7 million for the development of civil society in Russia, promotion of and strengthening of NGOs, support of minorities, including ethnic and LGBT communities.
“Volunteers, civil activists and local residents will be a series of lessons on the theme of social activities and ways of dealing with crimes committed on grounds of intolerance”, — was specified in the document of the Fund.
The grant for the protection of ethnic minorities was to “provide, if necessary, legal assistance and advice to ethnic minorities”.
Almost $13 thousand was allocated to the creation of a site for the struggle for human rights, which will provide information support and legal assistance to minorities and activists.
$56 thousand from NED and went on reducing the number of cases of human rights violations by law enforcement bodies.
“The activities under the project will include the public protection of the interests of victims of human rights violations and the coordination of the fight against persecution of public organizations of the state,” notes on NED’s website.
Top secret
Interestingly, in report NED presents only information about the allocated grants and the purposes for which they went. The names of the grantees in this case were not disclosed.
NED stress that are interested in cooperation with non-profit organizations from more than 90 countries. On the Foundation’s website States that NED sends hundreds of grants through four organizations: the Center for international private enterprise (CIPE), international Republican Institute (IRI), national democratic Institute (NDI) and the American solidarity center (Solidarity center).
IRI and NDI, as well as NED, is recognized in Russia as “undesirable” organizations.
Legally the NED has no effect on the territory of Russia, says the political scientist Alexander Asaph.
“Nevertheless, through a number of other smaller funds, including a joint Russian citizens — valid. Exactly to prevent such adopted a law on foreign agents. But of course, they find ways and schemes to continue the activity”, — the expert said in an interview with RT.
In the NED operational review request for RT on the financing of the opposition in Russia is not provided.
Unwanted items
The Prosecutor General of Russia in 2015 NED included in the list of “undesirable” organizations.
The Department announced that, using the capabilities controlled by Russian commercial and non-profit organizations, the Foundation “participated in the work on the recognition of the illegitimate outcome of the election campaigns, the organization of political actions to influence taken by the authorities decisions, discrediting the service in the Armed forces of Russia”.
Officially, the national endowment for democracy allocates money for the program “development and protection of human rights and the rule of law, support freedom of information and independent media, strengthen democratic ideas and values, accountability and transparency, support to civil society organizations that support civic education” and other projects.
The organization awards grants to activists not only in Russia — support organizations in Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries.