On 20 June 2023, a court in Moscow received a case against journalist Michael Naki, who is accused of not marking his publications with the compulsory “foreign agent” label required by Russian law. If found guilty, the journalist (who currently lives abroad) faces a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles.
In September, the Russian Ministry of Justice included Naki on its list of “foreign agents”, after a criminal case was opened against him on charges of spreading “fake news” on Russia’s alleged shelling of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine.
Journalists and media designated as “foreign agents” or “foreign agent media outlets” are submitted to publication restrictions in Russia, and are obliged to declare their activities and revenues to the Russian Ministry of Justice.