The Russian justice ministry has asked a court to shut down the Russian Human Rights Research Center, one of the country's oldest human rights group:
The government's request comes just weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law giving the authorities wide-ranging powers to monitor the activities and finances of non-governmental organisations.
The new powers, which include the right to suspend NGOs should they "threaten Russia's sovereignty or independence", have been severely criticised by both domestic and international rights groups.
