MOSCOW -- Encountering intense criticism from the United States and Europe about Russia's commitment to civil society, President Vladimir V. Putin signaled a willingness yesterday to temper his country's controversial legislative crackdown on human rights groups and other nongovernmental organizations.
But he endorsed the need for a proposed law aimed at reining in NGOs, saying Russia should "exercise control" over the activities of foreign and domestic groups to ensure that their activities adhere to the stated missions of their charters.
