The Echo media project was included in the register of “foreign agents”

On June 26, the Russian Ministry of Justice updated the register of so-called “foreign agents.”

It included sociologist Elena Koneva, the social movement “Crimean Solidarity”, which helps political prisoners and those persecuted by the Russian authorities in annexed Crimea, the anarcho-communist media project “ Autonomous Action ”, as well as the media project “Echo” , created by a number of journalists from the radio station “Echo of Moscow” who went abroad, which was closed shortly after the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

The law on “foreign agents,” adopted in 2012, allowed the Ministry of Justice to recognize non-profit organizations as “foreign agents” if, according to Russian authorities, they receive funding from abroad and are engaged in political activities.

Subsequently, it became possible to recognize media and individuals as “foreign agents,” including those who do not receive foreign funding but are “under foreign influence.” Russian legislation does not specify what exactly should be considered foreign influence. As a rule, opponents of the war in Ukraine are included in the register.

There are now more than 1.2 thousand people and organizations on the Ministry of Justice register. As a rule, the Ministry of Justice updates it on Fridays. Inclusion in the register means a significant loss of rights.

Human rights activists call the law on “foreign agents” repressive. In Russia, criminal cases are regularly initiated against citizens on charges of failure to fulfill the duties of a “foreign agent.”

Radio Liberty news release: