Russian authorities stated on Friday that this is the case presidential candidate, a prominent human rights lawyer, and several others who are “foreign agents.””, the latest step in a brutal crackdown on dissent in Russia, which has reached new heights since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
Russia introduced the label in 2012, following massive anti-government protests that authorities claimed were fueled by foreign influence. It has since been used to target non-governmental organizations, news media and individual Kremlin critics.
The designation entails additional government oversight and is intended to discredit the individuals named.
Ekaterina Duntsovaa former regional lawmaker who tried to run against President Vladimir Putin in the 2024 elections but was ultimately barred was among those designated Friday.
Maria Litvinovich, advocate for prisoners’ rights; the Way Home movement campaigning for the return of mobilized Russian soldiers from Ukraine and its active member Maria Andreyeva, as well as two critical news outlets were also mentioned.
The Kremlin’s campaign of repression reached new heights after the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In fact, Moscow has any criticism of the war was criminalizednot only aimed at prominent opposition figures who ultimately received draconian prison sentences everyone who spoke out against it.
Duntsova has campaigned for peace in Ukraine, and Litvinovich has also spoken out against the war. Andreyeva and the Way Home have organized several protests in Moscow, demanding that the reservists drafted for the 2022 “partial mobilization” be dismissed and replaced with contract soldiers.
