The Russian Ministry of Justice added to the register of so-called foreign agents on Friday. He understood comedian and singer-songwriter Semyon Slepakov, publicist Igor Yakovenko, screenwriter and animator Pavel Muntyan, journalist Pavel Kanygin, publication Agency, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, online publication Polygon and the Rainbow Association.
According to the Ministry of Justice, Slepakov received support from foreign sources, spoke out against the war in Ukraine and “adopted a negative attitude towards the army and the civil service in general”, and also “spoke negatively citizens of the Russian Federation”. ”
The others have similar claims, with the exception of the Rainbow Association. The latter deals with the protection of the rights and social adaptation of sexual and gender minorities. The reason for his inclusion in the list of foreign agents was “the propaganda of LGBT relations, which is contrary to state policy aimed at preserving and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”
In connection with the liquidation of the register of foreign agents, the regional public body “Sakhalin Environmental Watch” and the self-governing non-profit organization “Center for the conservation and study of salmon species and their habitats” have been excluded from the register of foreign agents.
Legislation on “foreign agents” in Russia appeared in 2012. The law authorized the Ministry of Justice to designate nonprofit organizations as “foreign agents” if they received funds from abroad and engaged in political activities. The criteria according to which these activities are determined are not clearly defined in the law, which allows the authorities to prosecute organizations working in the field of education, culture, health, ecology and protection of human rights.
Subsequently, it became possible to recognize as “foreign agents” media outlets and individuals, including those who do not receive foreign funding, but are “under foreign influence”. What exactly can be considered under the influence is not specified.
The list of so-called media – foreign agents in Russia includes the editorial staff of Radio Liberty, its regional projects and the TV channel “Present Time”. Radio Liberty appealed its inclusion to the European Court of Human Rights.
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