On 15 September 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated TV Rain journalist Ilya Shepelin as a “foreign agent”, implying a wide range of restrictions on his activity. The journalist received the designation for “participating in the production and dissemination of content of foreign agents, active collaboration with foreign agents, as well as denouncing the special military operation”, as Russia officially names the full-scale invasion of Ukraine ongoing since February 2022.
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 9 April 2024, a court in Moscow registered a case against Shepelin, in which he stood accused of violating Russian legislation on “foreign agents” by not mentioning his status in his publications. If found guilty, he faces a fine of up to 50 thousand rubles.