At least one further detention was reported locally. Dozens said they reduced their social media activity because everything they publish, even personal social media posts, must contain a 24-word disclaimer that identifies them as a “foreign agent.” Since the invasion of Ukraine, at least five people on the register said they have been briefly detained for involvement in anti-war protests or while carrying out reporting related to the war. Others said they left Russia because they didn’t feel safe. Several lost work or were forced to change jobs. Most said they had received no explanation for their inclusion on the list. The respondents, all Russian citizens, denied working for a foreign power. These people include journalists, pensioners, activists and performers.
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Sixty five responded to a series of questions about how the designation affected them, creating a unique dataset. Reuters contacted all 76 people on the list of “foreign agents,” which is compiled by the Ministry of Justice and published on its website. “The repression we’re seeing now,” since the war broke out, “is a spectacular escalation of trends already in evidence over the last few years,” Noble said. ’Erasing history': Russia closes top rights group, capping year of crackdown Russia finds Meta guilty of 'extremist activity' How Russia’s new Gulag tries to break convicts like Alexei Navalny These registers, said Ben Noble, associate professor of Russian politics at University College London, are “part of a broader project, which involves both moving against individuals who are publicly critical of the government and also trying to have a broader chilling effect to stop people from even thinking about getting involved with opposition or critical, independent journalism in the first place, for fear that they will, essentially, be framed by the authorities as traitors.” “When you’re forced to do this type of bureaucratic and humiliating nonsense it’s a kind of psychological torture.”Īnd that, some analysts say, is the Kremlin’s aim. “It takes time away from my work and causes a lot of psychological stress,” she said. Even more costly is the endless time spent on meeting the requirements. Accounting fees will add to that sum when her LLC undergoes an audit. She estimates that complying with the requirements so far has cost her about 1,000 euros.
The company has to undergo annual audits but, as Arapova explains, auditors are not keen on taking clients with “foreign agent” status, and those who do tend to charge a lot. The process involves finding premises to register a legal entity, drawing up seals and electronic signatures, submitting documents to the tax service, and opening a company bank account. This too is added to the list of “foreign agents” and must report its activities to the authorities. People deemed to be “foreign agents” must set up a legal entity, such as a Limited Liability Company. Reuters sent detailed questions to the Kremlin, the Ministry of Justice and other Russian agencies about the rules imposed on “foreign agents.” None provided any comment.
Repeated violations can lead to prosecution and up to two years in jail. If a page is missing or the report arrives late, she could be fined. She prints out then mails the report to the ministry, the pages carefully stapled together. Do we have to list all utility costs and receipts from supermarkets or just overall expenses for three months?” “We don’t fully understand what exactly they want us to do because the law is very vague,” she told Reuters. She offers legal advice to other “foreign agents,” but says she’s often in the dark about what the rules require. Arapova states in her account simply that she works as a lawyer, unsure whether she’s providing enough detail. Some retired people list their household chores. Reuters reviewed one such report.Įvery six months, “foreign agents” must file an account to the ministry of how they spend their time. She must file a quarterly report to the Ministry of Justice detailing her income and expenses, including trips to the supermarket. The designation brings close government scrutiny of Arapova’s daily life and a mountain of red tape. The ministry didn’t comment for this article. The Ministry of Justice declared Arapova, 49, a “foreign agent” on Oct. Mass Media Defence Centre/Handout via REUTERS She says the resulting bureaucracy is expensive and time consuming. Galina Arapova, a lawyer, was added to the register of “foreign agents” in October.
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