The State Duma has adopted in the main reading a new bill on “foreign agents”

Deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the second, main, reading the draft law “On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence.”

What is this bill?

The new bill regulates the activities of people and organizations declared "foreign agents" in Russia. In particular, it is proposed to grant such status to those who receive support from abroad or are "under foreign influence in other forms" and do not receive foreign funding, as is the case now. It is proposed to combine the four existing registers of "foreign agents" into one.

In addition, the draft law includes the concept of "individuals affiliated with foreign agents" . People who have been declared "affiliated persons" are not subject to the requirements established for "foreign agents". At the same time, the Ministry of Justice will maintain a register of "affiliated persons".

Of the 74 amendments proposed for the second reading, the deputies approved 14, Kommersant writes . The rejected amendments, according to the publication, were of a "softening" nature. Deputy Vasily Piskarev said that in the context of a "special military operation" in Ukraine, "liberalization of this bill is unacceptable."

In particular, the deputies adopted amendments that prohibit “foreign agents” from:

• receive state financial support, including for creative activities;
• teach in state and municipal educational organizations, as well as engage in educational activities with children (organizations declared “foreign agents” cannot engage in the education of children);
• to produce information products for children;
• participate in the procurement of goods, works, and services to meet state and municipal needs;
• maintain simplified accounting (financial) records;
• act as experts in state environmental assessments and participate in the organization and conduct of public environmental assessments;
• invest in business entities that are of strategic importance for ensuring the country's defense and state security;
• operate or protect significant critical information infrastructure facilities.

One of the amendments proposes that employers' associations and chambers of commerce and industry not be declared "foreign agents."

The bill is scheduled to be considered in its third reading on June 29.