On 24 November 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated independent journalist Ilya Davlyatchin as a “foreign agent”, imposing sweeping restrictions on his public activities. Authorities justified their decision by claiming that Davlyatchin had contributed to creating a “negative image of the Russian Federation”, that he had criticized Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and that he had allegedly spread “false information” about the policies and decisions of Russian authorities. The journalist was also accused of disseminating content produced by other “foreign agents”.
Davlyatchin left Russia following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He has previously published for independent Russian media outlets such as Verstka, Poligon Media and Novaya Gazeta Europe. The journalist commented on the “foreign agent” decision on Instagram, implying that he would not comply with the new restrictions.
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.