State Duma Approves New Restrictions for 'Foreign Agents'
The State Duma immediately adopted in the second and third readings a bill on 'strengthening state control' over 'foreign agents'. This is stated on the website of the lower house of the Russian parliament. The amendments, in particular, provide for: A ban on placing social advertising on social networks and on the resources of 'foreign agents'. In addition, people and organizations with this status will not be allowed to order such advertising. Previously, the ban applied only to commercial advertisements; An obligation for banks to provide information on financial transactions, accounts, and deposits of 'foreign agents' to the Ministry of Justice within three days upon request; A ban on submitting a repeated application for exclusion from the register if a person or organization has already been refused less than a year ago. However, this will not apply to individuals who received 'foreign agent' status for the first time, noted the human rights center 'First Department'; An obligation for 'foreign agents' to submit most reports to the Ministry of Justice electronically, rather than on paper, as is currently the case. At the same time, the submission of a form about the absence of changes has been left in its previous format; Exclusion of 'foreign agents' from the scope of the law 'On Mandatory Requirements', which protects businesses, organizations, and citizens from excessively frequent inspections and excessive demands from the authorities. It will be easier to check people and organizations with this status, human rights defenders concluded. The 'foreign agent' status was introduced in Russia in 2012. At that time, the list included those for whom the Ministry of Justice found 'foreign financing'. This could include, in particular, single transfers of funds from citizens of other countries, including Belarus. Since 2022, one can become a 'foreign agent' in Russia without 'financing' from other countries, but merely with the presence of 'foreign influence'. At the time of writing this news, more than 1200 individuals and legal entities are included in the Ministry of Justice register. According to 'OVD-Info', in 2024, 178 people and 37 organizations were added to the list. Moreover, 96% of them had no foreign funding found.
State Duma Approves New Restrictions for ‘Foreign Agents’ The Russian State Duma has passed legislation significantly increasing state control over individuals and organizations designated as ‘foreign agents’. Key changes include bans on social advertising for these entities, new reporting requirements for banks, and exemptions from certain business protection laws, making inspections easier. The definition of ‘foreign agent’ has also expanded beyond foreign funding to include ‘foreign influence,’ affecting over 1200 entities in Russia.
- Russian State Duma passed new laws enhancing state control over ‘foreign agents’.
- Restrictions include a ban on social advertising by and for ‘foreign agents’.
- Banks must now share financial information of ‘foreign agents’ with the Ministry of Justice within three days.
- The definition of ‘foreign agent’ now includes ‘foreign influence’ in addition to ‘foreign financing’.
- ‘Foreign agents’ are now excluded from the ‘On Mandatory Requirements’ law, simplifying inspections.
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