On December 1, 2022, a new law went into effect in Russia expanding the existing “foreign agents” legislation. Adopted in July of that year, “the law’s entry into force . . . expands the defintion of foreign agent to a point at which almost any person or entity, regardless of nationality or location, who engages in civic activism or even expresses opinions about Russian policies or officials’ conduct could be designated a foreign agent, so long as the authorities claim they are under ‘foreign influence.’ It also excludes ‘foreign agents’ from key aspects of civic life.” [Russia: New Restrictions for ‘Foreign Agents,’ Human Rights Watch, Dec. 1, 2022.] (Emphasis is mine — so much for having an opinion!)

Under the original law, in order for an individual to be charged as a “foreign agent,” they had to receive financial or material assistance from abroad. The new law, however, allows officials to include in the foreign agents registry anyone who is “under foreign influence.” The definition of “political activities” has also been broadened “to include a vague clause covering any activities that ‘contradict the national interests of the Russian Federation.’” [RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Dec. 1, 2022.]

It is not coincidental that these changes were made at a time when the Kremlin was — and still is — cracking down on all dissent and criticism over its “special military operation” (i.e., war) in Ukraine.

In just the past few months, several noted Russian citizens have been added to the list of those designated as foreign agents. One such — known by his pen name, Boris Akunin — is one of Russia’s most popular novelists, and is now on a register of “terrorists and extremists” because of his objections to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Akunin (whose real name is Grigory Chkhartishvili) is said by the oxymoronically-named Russian Ministry of Justice to have “opposed the special military operation in Ukraine,” and “disseminated false information aimed at creating a negative image” of Russia and its army. This was the Ministry’s interpretation of his statement, made on the day the Russian forces invaded Ukraine, that “Russia is ruled by a psychologically deranged dictator and worst of all, it obediently follows his paranoia.” Clearly, the truth hurts.

Boris Akunin — whose books have been banned in Russia — now resides in London. He has no idea whether he will ever be able to return home.

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Mikhail Kasyanov, former Prime Minister of Russia during Vladimir Putin’s first presidential term (2000-2004), has been placed on the Justice Ministry’s “foreign agent” list for opposing the “special military operation” in Ukraine, and for being “a member of the Russian Anti-War Committee, an association whose activities are aimed at discrediting Russian foreign and domestic policy.” [Reuters/Europe, Nov. 25, 2023.]

Mr. Kasyanov left Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, and continues to live in exile.

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Dmitry Muratov – Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2021) and former editor of the now-defunct independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, found himself added to the “foreign agent” list on September 1st of 2023, accused of “creating and disseminating work produced by foreign agents . . . [and using] foreign media to promote opinions that are aimed at forming a negative attitude towards Russia’s interior and foreign policy.” [Reuters/Europe, Sept. 1, 2023.]

In other words, speaking the truth.

Mr. Muratov was editor of the liberal Novaya Gazeta for more than two decades. The publication received funding from the late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned for having brought glasnost and perestroika to his country. But during the reign of Vladimir Putin (from 2000), six of the paper’s journalists and collaborators — including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya — have been killed.

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Since the revocation of the paper’s license on September 5, 2022, other Novaya Gazeta journalists have fled to Latvia, where they now produce the new online publication, Novaya Gazeta Europe. Mr. Muratov, however, has chosen to remain in Russia, where, in June 2023, he joined the defense team of Oleg Orlov, founding member and co-chair of the human rights group Memorial, who was then on trial in Moscow charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces. [Reuters/Europe, Sept. 1, 2023.] Mr. Orlov, not surprisingly, was convicted of the charges on October 11th. What was surprising was that at sentencing he only received a fine of 150,000 rubles (approximately US$1,500), and no imprisonment. [Tanya Lokshina, Human Rights Watch, Oct. 11, 2023.]

But . . .

But Mr. Orlov, 70, continued to insist on his innocence and appealed the trial court’s ruling. Big mistake. Because at the hearing on the appeal, the prosecution — which had initially requested the lighter sentence in deference to Mr. Orlov’s age and health — now asked the court to sentence him to three years in prison instead, accusing him of “political and ideological hatred” of Russia. [Agence France-Presse, Dec. 14, 2023.]

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Not yet in prison, these warriors on behalf of democracy are nevertheless HOSTAGES of a different sort: two being forced to live outside their homeland because of the probable future that would await them if they were to return; and two living with the fear of imminent arrest and imprisonment, every minute of every hour of every day. Simply for expressing an opinion.

Such is “justice” in Putin’s Russia.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/19/24