On 23 March 2023, Russia’s Ministry of Justice added journalist Bogdan Bakaleiko to the country’s list of “foreign agents”, Russian independent media reported. According to authorities, Bakaleiko, as well as a set of other public figures who received the designation at the same time, disseminated publications by other foreign agents, criticized authorities and opposed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Bakaleiko is known as an independent journalist who previously worked with outlets such as TV Rain and newspaper Kommersant. He no longer lives in Russia.
Initially adopted in 2012, Russia’s law on foreign agents has been revised several times over the past decade to include an ever-wider range of potential targets for state-sponsored discrimination. Currently, any organization, media or private individual can be designated as such simply by being declared to be “under foreign influence” by the Russian Ministry of Justice or because of receiving funds of any amount from abroad (or from an entity itself receiving foreign funds). “Foreign agents” are also barred from receiving state financing, teaching at state universities, working with minors and providing expertise on environmental issues, among other restrictions.
UPDATE: On 17 May 2024, Russian outlet MediaZona reported that journalist Bogdan Bakaleiko had been placed on the country’s ‘wanted’ list for allegedly not fulfilling his obligations as a “foreign agent”. Bakaleiko earlier said that a criminal case had been opened against him for this reason. It was also reported that Bakaleiko had previously been fined in Russia for violating laws which bestow a set of obligations on people designated as “foreign agents”.