Opponents say move to register NGOs engaged in 'political activity' is part of campaign to suppress dissent

Vladimir Putin has approved a law that will tighten controls on civil rights groups funded from abroad, his office said on Saturday, a move opponents claim is part of a campaign to suppress dissent.

The law, which was cleared by the upper house of the Russian parliament and the Federation Council this month, will force non-governmental organisations engaging in "political activity" to register with the justice ministry as "foreign agents" and to file a report to officials every quarter.

Opposition groups say Putin is trying to silence groups whose criticism of his human rights record has undercut his credibility and helped fuel seven months of protests against his rule. Putin has been in power for 12 years as president and then prime minister, and won another six-year presidential term in March.

This month the US state department expressed "deep concern" about the NGO law, and was promptly rebuked by Russia for "gross interference".

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