On 1 September 2023, Russia’s Ministry of Justice added new names to the country’s list of “foreign agents”. Among those added were TV Rain journalist Denis Kataev as well as the long-time Echo of Moscow journalist Kseniya Larina (also known as Oksana Barsheva). Kataev was accused of disseminating publications by other “foreign agents”, calling upon sending weapons to Ukraine and publishing what Russian authorities claim is “fake news” about the Russian government, as well as living and working in France. Larina was handed the status for openly supporting Ukraine, disseminating publications by other foreign agents, “carrying out activities, aimed at creating anti-Russian opinions”, as well as working for a non-governmental organization recognized in Russia as “undesirable”.
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.