The lawyer of the 'Conscientious Objectors Movement' Artyom Klyga, according to the Ministry of Justice, 'spread false information' about the Russian authorities and opposed the war in Ukraine. He was also accused of collaborating with 'foreign agents' and 'undesirable' organizations. In addition, he 'ensures the activities of an organization included in the register of foreign agents'.
Tamila Ivanova was also accused of 'ensuring the activities' of a 'foreign agent', holding an anti-war position, and spreading 'false information'. Furthermore, the department claims that she participated as a respondent on the information platform of a foreign media outlet.
Former KVN participant Yevgeny Trikoz was included in the updated register, among other things, for 'forming a negative image of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation'. Rapper Naum Blik became a 'foreign agent' due to his anti-war stance and discrediting of the Russian authorities.
Bloggers Yevgeny Yegorchenko and Ivan Zvyagin collected the full set of claims from the Ministry of Justice, from an anti-war position to collaboration with 'foreign agents' and 'undesirable' organizations.
This week, Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko awarded pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, known as Vovan and Lexus, 'for their contribution to exposing foreign agents'. They were presented with a medal named after lawyer Anatoly Koni, considered the highest departmental award in the Ministry of Justice and awarded for significant contributions to justice, including the development of legislation and ensuring law and order. Among the 'victims' called by the pranksters were writer Lyudmila Ulitskaya, musician Andrey Makarevich, and writer Boris Akunin. All of them are recognized as 'foreign agents'.
The unified register of 'foreign agents' has been maintained since December 1, 2022, and includes individuals, registered and unregistered non-profit and non-governmental organizations. There are over a thousand entries in the register.
'Foreign agents' are required to publish texts and messages with a notification that they are produced by a 'foreign agent'. Fines are provided for evading the duties of a 'foreign agent', and repeated violations of the law result in criminal liability. By the end of 2024, 170 people received two fines each under the administrative article on violating the order of activities of a 'foreign agent'. The State Duma passed a law prohibiting the placement of advertisements with 'foreign agents', and 'foreign agents' themselves are prohibited from participating in elections. Also, all income of 'foreign agents' in Russia, including the sale and rental of real estate, will be deposited into a special ruble account, which can only be accessed after the removal of the 'foreign agent' status.
* Recognized as a 'foreign agent' in Russia.