Autonomous Non-profit Organization 'Hansa Bureau/Information Office of Schleswig-Holstein in Kaliningrad'

The Hansa Bureau was established in Kaliningrad in 1992. At first, it functioned as a representative office of the German 'Union for the Promotion of Youth Education', then as an information office of the Government of the State of Schleswig-Holstein (since 1999, Schleswig-Holstein and Kaliningrad Oblast are partner-regions). The goals of the organization are to establish economic relations between Northern Germany and Kaliningrad, as well as Russia-Germany cooperation in culture, education and sports. The Hansa Bureau has helped to organize and hold festivals like 'Territory of Cinema', 'Musical Spring', as well as various seminars in Kaliningrad.

In May 2016, the Hansa Bureau was recognized as a 'foreign agent', after which the organization ceased its activities. Subsequently, the organization was recreated under a new name—'Hansa Office Kaliningrad'.

Name

Field of activity

Support of the local communities

Status

“Foreign agent” (NGO)

Reason for recognition

The organization was listed as a 'foreign agent' after an unscheduled inspection by the Ministry of Justice.

Year of recognition

2016

Status description

Since 2012, such status can be obtained by non-profit organizations registered in Russia, and from 2020 unregistered public associations, which, according to the Russian government: a) receive foreign funding, b) participate in “political activity,” which is understood as any public activity. Who recognizes: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Responsibilities: NPO-"foreign agents” are required to provide a report on their activities, audit reports, and data on the organization’s personnel. In addition, they must submit to the Ministry of Justice a report on the goals and actual spending of funds, including those received from foreign sources. Unregistered public associations must provide the Ministry of Justice with a notice on receipt of funds from foreign sources and participation in political activities, as well as with a report on the funds received, purposes, and their actual use. Administrative liability: mentioning an NGO-"foreign agent” and an unregistered public association-foreign agent on the Internet or in the media—a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles. (Article 13.15 of the Code of Administrative Offences). failure to submit or untimely submission of reports—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles for an NCO-foreign agent (Article 19.7.5-2 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 30 thousand rubles for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the association produces or distributes materials without specifying that such association is a foreign agent—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles, for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and up to 500 thousand rubles for an NGO-foreign agent (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if an employee, but not an association as a whole, distributes any materials and does not indicate that he/she is an employee of an NGO-foreign agent—a fine of five thousand rubles and for unregistered public associations (Article 19.7.5-3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), and for NGOs (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the organization operates but does not enter itself in the register of foreign agents—a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles for non-profit organizations (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). if the activities of the organization are suspended, but it continues to function—a fine for an unregistered public association for organizers up to two thousand rubles, and for participants—up to one thousand rubles, for an NGO-foreign agent—a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles for organizers and up to five thousand rubles for participants (Article 20.28 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Criminal liability: malicious evasion of reporting by registered NGOs and unregistered public associations recognized as foreign agents—a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or imprisonment for up to two years (par.1 article 330.1 of the Criminal Code).

Charitable Activities

Information office of Schleswig-Holstein in Kaliningrad