Programs > By Location > Newly Independent States

Programs By Location: Newly Independent States

Since 1994 ICNL has worked in the Newly Independent States (NIS), also known as the Former Soviet Union (FSU), or Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), to support legal frameworks promoting civil society. Our current programs are in Azerbaijan, Belarus, all countries of Central Asia, Ukraine, and Russia.

Additional resources are also detailed below.

Azerbaijan

Since 2006 ICNL has been implementing a five-year program in Azerbaijan. This program is funded by USAID and implemented by a consortium led by Counterpart International. ICNL is assisting with strengthening the NGO legal enabling environment in Azerbaijan by focusing on two primary spheres: 1) legislation governing establishment and registration procedures for NGOs, and 2) legislation affecting NGO sustainability. Our Legal Advisor for Azerbaijan is available to answer your questions about ICNL activities in Azerbaijan.

Belarus

From 2006 to 2008 ICNL is working in Belarus to increase the capacity and effectiveness of lawyers specializing in assistance to civil society organizations and activists. For more information about our activities in Belarus, please contact the Vice President of the NIS Programs.

Central Asia

Since 1997 ICNL has worked to foster an enabling legal and fiscal environment for NGOs to operate in Central Asia. Program activities are tailored to meet the needs and challenges in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, while regional activities encourage networking and build on experiences and lessons learned in the region, in other NIS countries and globally. Central Asia Office and Staff contact information is located on our website in English and in Russian (coming soon).

The current Central Asia NGO and Media Legal Framework Program, through USAID and PACT, allows ICNL to serve as an informational resource to all governmental and non-governmental stakeholders interested in improving legislation for NGOs. ICNL facilitates interaction among all stakeholders to ensure that they assume ownership of the legal reform process. ICNL is working to increase the capacity and effectiveness of lawyers specializing in assistance to civil society organizations and activists. ICNL also provides information to NGOs on their rights and obligations.

ICNL’s current program involves educational and informational support through the distribution of ICNL newsletters, manuals and other texts, and by sponsoring and participating in roundtables, seminars and training programs. Below you will find important resources, specific to each country, which help regulate and inform civil society organizations in Central Asia.

Kazakhstan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Click on the icon to download a copy in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), or click on the icon to download a copy in Microsoft Word format (DOC).

Newsletters 2009

Newsletter 3 - Kazakh Tax Authorities Greatly Simplify Reporting Requirements for NGOs Receiving Foreign Aid
(March 27, 2009)
- Newsletter 3 (English)
- Newsletter 3 (Russian)
Newsletter 2 - Overview of Most Significant Changes in the new Tax Code Essential for NGOs (March 17, 2009)
- Newsletter 2 (English)
  - Overview of Major Amendments in the new Tax Code (English)
- Newsletter 2 (Russian)
  - Overview of Major Amendments in the new Tax Code (Russian)
Newsletter 1 - Kazakhstan has Ratified the Optional Protocol to International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights (February 20, 2009)
- Newsletter 1 (English)
- Newsletter 1 (Russian)

Newsletters Archive

Newletters 2008

Newsletter 12 - Number of Registered Commercial Entities in Kazakhstan (December 25, 2008)
- Newsletter 12 (English)
- Newsletter 12 (Russian)
Newsletter 11 - Number of Registered Non-Commercial Organizations in Kazakhstan (December 12, 2008)
- Newsletter 11 (English)
- Newsletter 11 (Russian)
Newsletter 10 - Analysis of NGO Suggestions for Improving Kazakh legislation (September 30, 2008)
- Newsletter 10 (English)
  - Kazakhstan proposals for Tax Reform (English)
  - Namys Analysis of NGO suggestions on NGO financing Sept 2 (English)
- Newsletter 10 (Russian)
  - Kazakhstan proposals for Tax Reform (Russian)
  - Namys Analysis of NGO suggestions on NGO financing Sept 2 (Russian)
Newsletter 9 - Corporate Sponsorship vs. Corporate Philanthropy (September 3, 2008)
- Newsletter 9 (English)
  - CS vs. CP (English)
- Newsletter 9 (Russian)
  - CS vs. CP (Russian)
Newsletter 8 - The Draft of the new Tax Code (August 29, 2008)
- Newsletter 8 (English)
  - Comparative Chart (New Tax Code) as of August 18, 2008 (English)
- Newsletter 8 (Russian)
  - Comparative Chart (New Tax Code) as of August 18, 2008 (Russian)
Newsletter 7 - On Compulsory Certification for Accountants of Public Interest Organizations (July 30, 2008)
- Newsletter 7 (English)
- Newsletter 7 (Russian)
Newsletter 6 - Comparative Study on the Legal Status of Informal Associations in Europe (June 20, 2008)
- Newsletter 6 (English)
  - Comparative Study on the Status of Informal Associations (English)
- Newsletter 6 (Russian)
  - Comparative Study on the Status of Informal Associations (Russian)
  - Concept 2006 - 2011
  - Action Plan
Newsletter 5 - Statutory Reporting Requirements for Representatives Offices of FNGOs (June 16, 2008)
- Newsletter 5 (English)
- Newsletter 5 (Russian)
Newsletter 4 - NGOs Offer Suggestions for Improving Mechanisms of State Social Contracts (May 28, 2008)
- Newsletter 4 (English)
- Newsletter 4 (Russian)
Newsletter 3 - A New System of Payments of Social Allowances for Maternity Leave (May 15, 2008)
- Newsletter 3 (English)
- Newsletter 3 (Russian)
Newsletter 2 - Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences relative to NGOs (April 23, 2008)
- Newsletter 2 (English)
- Newsletter 2 (Russian)
  - Attachment 1 (Russian)
Newsletter 1 - Tightening of the Tax Regime for Noncommercial Organizations (March 26, 2008)
- Newsletter 1 (English)
- Newsletter 1 (Russian)
  - Attachment 1 (Russian)

Newsletters 2007

Newsletter 6 - Number of Registered Non-Commercial Organizations in Kazakhstan (December 11, 2007)
- Newsletter 6 (English)
- Newsletter 6 (Russian)
Newsletter 5 - Number of Registered Commercial Entities in Kazakhstan (November 28, 2007)
- Newsletter 5 (English)
- Newsletter 5 (Russian)
Newsletter 4 - Safeguarding Civil Society in Politically Complex Environments (November 2, 2007)
- Newsletter 4 (English)
  - Safeguarding Civil Society (English)
- Newsletter 4 (Russian)
  - Safeguarding Civil Society (Russian)
Newsletter 3 - Kazakhstan signs [first] Optional Protocol to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (October 28, 2007)
- Newsletter 3 (English)
- Newsletter 3 (Russian)
Newsletter 2 - International Investment Treaty Protection of Not-for-Profit Organizations (October 5, 2007)
- Newsletter 2 (English)
  - International Investment Treaty Protection of Not-for-Profit Organizations (English)
- Newsletter 2 (Russian)
  - International Investment Treaty Protection of Not-for-Profit Organizations (Russian)
Newsletter 1
- Newsletter 1 (Russian)

Newsletters 2006

Newsletter 6 - Two New Consultative Bodies are Established under the Government of Kazakhstan
- Russian
Newsletter 5 - Kazakhstan Reduces Registration Fees
- English
- Russian
Newsletter 4 - New Statutory Reporting Requirements for Rep Offices of Foreign Non-Commercials in Kazakhstan
- English
Newsletter 3 - Kazakhstan Changes Registration for Religious Associations
- English
- Russian
Newsletter 2 - Quantity of Registered Non-Commercial Entities in Kazakhstan
- English
- Russian
Newsletter 1 - Quantity of Registered Commercial Entities in Kazakhstan
- English
- Russian

Laws

Coming soon

Publications

Coming soon

Kyrgyzstan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Click on the icon to download a copy in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), or click on the icon to download a copy in Microsoft Word format (DOC).

Analysis of Ombudsman's Proposals
- Russian
- English
Kyrgyzstan Consitution - Amended October 2007
- English
Law on Non-Commercial Organizations
- Russian
- English
Law on Philanthropy and Charitable Activity
- Russian
- English
Law on Social Services Contracting
- Russian
- English
Manual on NGO creation in Kyrgyzstan
- Russian
Recommendations for the new Draft Tax Code of the Kyrgyz Republic regarding regulation of taxation of NGOs
- Russian
- English

Tajikistan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Click on the icon to download a copy in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), or click on the icon to download a copy in Microsoft Word format (DOC).

Law on Public Associations (amended 20.03.2008)
- English
- Russian
Law on Public Initiative Bodies
- Russian
Civil Code (Part 1)
- English
- Russian
Civil Code (Part 2)
- English
- Russian
Civil Code (Part 3)
- Russian
Law on Advocate's Activity
- English
- Russian
Law on Authorized on Human Rights
- Russian
Tax Code (amended 20.03.2008)
- English
- Russian
Law on State Social Contracting
- Russian
Law on Information Protection (amended 2005)
- Russian
Law on Publishing Activity (amended 2005)
- Russian
Law on Mass Media (amended 2002)
- Russian
Law on Trade Unions (amended 1997)
- Russian
Law on Citizen's Appealing (amended 2007)
- Russian
Law on Right of Access to Information
- Russian
Law on Local Bodies of State Authority (amended 2006)
- Russian
Analysis on the Law on Public Associations in Tajikistan
- English
- Russian

Turkmenistan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Coming Soon...

Uzbekistan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Coming Soon...

Russia

Russian building Starting from 2003 ICNL has been serving as an informational resource and technical expert with many legislative initiatives targeting reforms of legislation relating to non-commercial organizations. ICNL’s current project is being supported by the USAID. ICNL is committed to assisting all governmental and non-governmental stakeholders interested in improving legislation relating to non-commercial organizations. Under the current project ICNL is also assisting several Russian organizations involved in promotion of civil society, and providing legal assistance to non-commercial organizations. To contact ICNL, LLC’s Affiliate Office in Moscow, Russia, please click here.

Ukraine

Since 1997 ICNL has served as an informational resource, assisting Ukrainian governmental and non-governmental stakeholders with their efforts to improve legislation for civil society organizations. The current project is supported by the C. S. Mott Foundation and by the USAID through the ISC-led consortium. Ukraine office and staff information is located here.

Additional Resources

ICNL has collected dozens of primary and secondary research materials on topics related to civil society in the NIS region. Visit the ICNL Online Library to access our collection of resources in Russian, Azerbaijani, Moldovan, and Ukrainian languages, as well as our regional and country-specific files. Registration to access the Online Library is free and easy, requiring only an email address.

Please note all Online Library files are viewable only in Adobe PDF format. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free of charge), click here. If you have difficulties viewing any document, please save it to your computer first by right-clicking on the file name. You may then open the document in Adobe Reader from your computer

Programs > By Location > Newly Independent States

Programs By Location: Newly Independent States

Azerbaijan

Belarus

Central Asia

Kazakhstan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Newsletters 2009

Newsletters Archive

Newletters 2008

Newsletters 2007

Newsletters 2006

Laws

Publications

Kyrgyzstan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Tajikistan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Turkmenistan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Uzbekistan Resources (Click Here to Expand/Collapse)

Russia

Ukraine

Additional Resources

This page was last updated 06-May-2009