Mikhail Shats

Since 2019, this register includes those individuals who, in the opinion of the Russian government: a) publicly disseminate messages and materials created by a media-foreign agent, or participate in the creation of such materials, b) receive foreign funding (money or property). A person may be declared “foreign agent” if he/she reposts materials from a foreign media outlet, writes materials for it, publishes joint materials (for example, journalistic investigations), provides some data, prepares drawings, participates in the creation of a video or even gives comments as an expert, and at the same time has any income from a foreign source. Who recognizes: Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Responsibilities and Limitations: An individual who is recognized as a foreign agent media is obliged to send to the Ministry of Justice a report on the expenditure of funds, including those received from foreign sources, and every six months publicly post a report on his activities on the Internet or provide to Russian media for publication. In addition, individuals included in this register must register a legal entity in Russia that receives the status of an NPO-foreign agent. The report on the activities of this NPO also needs to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice. Administrative liability: Violation of the order of activity after being recognized a foreign agent—a fine of 10 thousand rubles. A gross violation is threatened with a fine of five million rubles. (Article 19.34.1. of the Code of Administrative Offences) Criminal liability: If an individual-media-foreign agent does not fulfill the obligations required by law and has previously been held administratively liable because of this, a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles or imprisonment for up to two years (part 2 of article 330.1 of the Criminal Code).