Translated material
The Ministry of Justice was recommended to establish the status of a foreign agent for citizens
The Federation Council recommended the Ministry of Justice and the FSB to “study the issue” about equating to foreign agents of Russians who receive money from other states.
This is stated in the project of recommendations for the parliamentary hearings in the federation of the federation, TASS reports .
A member of the Federation Council Andrei Klishas later stated that Russian citizens cannot be equated with foreign agents, Interfax reports. He explained that the initiative proposed to consider citizens of the Russian Federation receiving money from foreign states, sources of financing NPOs.
According to Klishas, this is necessary to "close the loophole when NPOs received funding from citizens and cash."
The Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika during the hearing proposed to expand the criteria that allow organizations to include in the list of foreign agents, Interfax reports. With such criteria, he proposed to consider harming the economic and foreign policy interests of Russia.
According to RBC, the project of senators also notes the influence of Western organizations on the Russian media. Those allegedly organize educational programs for the exchange of experience with the American and European media. According to senators, Russian journalists are taught to use Internet services and social networks to “activate protest potential”.
Earlier, the Federation Council announced plans to create a commission on countering "interference in the internal affairs of Russia."
The Law on NPO - foreign agents adopted in 2012. To recognize the organization by a foreign agent, she must receive foreign financing and engage in political activities. The Ministry of Justice independently determines what exactly is considered political activity.
Over five years, foreign agents in Russia recognized the Levada Center, Memorial, the educational fund of Dmitry Zimin "Dynastia" and the information and analytical center "owl".