On 2 September 2022, the Russian Justice Ministry included five more journalists on its list of ‘foreign agents’ and ‘foreign agent media outlets’.
Editor-in-Chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe Kirill Martynov was designated a ‘foreign agent media outlet’. The online news portal he leads publishes articles by journalists from major independent outlet Novaya Gazeta who decided to leave Russia following the start of the country’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, and who continue to publish without the limitations imposed by Moscow’s war-time censorship.
Journalist and political scientist Sergey Medvedev was also designated as a ‘foreign agent media outlet’. Medvedev previously hosted a show at TV Rain, an independent channel, as well as at Current Time TV and at the Russian service of RFE/RL, which are both funded by the US Congress.
As for the list of ‘foreign agents’, Russia included independent journalist Sergey Loyko, Meduza presenter Katerina Gordeeva and Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon.
The Russian Justice Ministry informed that all five journalists were officially designated as ‘foreign agents’ and ‘foreign agent media outlets’ for ‘carrying out political activity’. RFE/RL wrote that they publicaly demonstrated their support of Ukraine following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Journalists and companies 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.
UPDATE: On 10 January 2024, a court in Moscow fined Loyko 50 thousand rubles on charges of not respecting legal obligations linked to his status as “foreign agent”.
UPDATE: On February 6, Russia placed Loyko on the country’s ‘wanted’ list.