Duma adopts controversial bill on NGOs

The draft, attacked by the West as a threat to civil rights but defended by the government as necessary for national security, won support from 357 members of the Duma and was rejected by just 20 lawmakers.

There were seven abstentions.

After its first reading in late November, when non-governmental organisations, Washington and the European parliament, among others, criticised the text, President Vladimir Putin asked legislators to revise the draft law.

The bill's detractors said the original legislation could lead to the closure of any association that criticised the government.

Although some 74 amendments were made during the bill's second reading on Wednesday, Russian NGOs derided the changes as minor.