The Russian Ministry of Justice has made a contribution to the register of “foreign agents” Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky. We are talking about the register of individuals, and not the media-“foreign agents”. This list of the Russian authorities fills only in early April of this year.

As one of two infected specified: “The implementation of political activities.” The second reason for the discovery of a foreign source of money or “organizational and methodological assistance.”

Khodorkovsky’s ministry has connected with Ukraine, Kasparov – with Ukraine and considers the Human Rights Foundation. What kind of help they observed is not specified.

Khodorkovsky, 58, is the former head and co-owner of the oil company Yukos, who served 10 years in a Russian colony and now lives in Britain. Kasparov, 59, is the 13th world chess champion, like Khodorkovsky, who held a position in Russia but then left for the US. In recent years, Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, has been an active advocate and supporter of independent media authorities.

Both Khodorkovsky and Kasparov also became members of the anti-war committee set up on February 27 after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Khodorkovsky said he was not going to implement the law on “foreign agents.” “I can only be proud of the fact that I am listed as a “foreign agent” – both journalists and not. I do what is prescribed in the laws on “foreign agents”, of course I will not, I do not obey the laws on quoting a businessman on telegrams – ChTD channel, which is associated with Khodorkovsky.

This new register – of individuals acting as a foreign agent – was completed by the Russian authorities on 5 April. In addition, they are actively expanding the list of people recognized by the media as “foreign agents”. There are four registers in total.

The first in the register of natural persons-“foreign agents” were selected journalists Yevgeny Kiselyov and Matvey Ganapolsky, who worked in Russia in the past, and now – in Ukraine.

On April 22, 2022, politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist, and Leonid Volkov, an associate of Navalny, were added to this register. On May 6, the popular rapper Morgenstern hit him. Kara-Murza steel and Kiselev also participated in the anti-war committee.

The basis for inclusion in this list, in addition to political activities, should be either funds or “organizational and methodological assistance” from abroad.

Like media outlets-“foreign agents”, individuals-“foreign agents” must mark their public materials and appeals to state bodies with a note about the status of “foreign agent”, and also keep track of reporting to the Ministry of Justice on their income and expenses.

Punishment for violation of rights under the new registry is more severe. If for the media – “foreign agents” the Criminal Code provides for punishment in the form of a fine of 300 thousand rubles. rubles up to two years in prison, then “individuals” can be imprisoned for up to five years.

As for the register of media outlets that perform the functions of a foreign agent, by Friday evening there are still 159 positions in it, including LLCs, which are required to create figures on the list. On April 29, two people were excluded from the register of media-“foreign agents” – election observation specialists Arkady Lyubarev and Lyudmila Kuzmina. On May 6, the ministry expelled four more people – electoral experts Vladimir Zhilkin, Alexander Lyutov, Alexander Grezev and Ilya Pigalkin.

The last time the register of media “agents” was replenished (excluding LLC) on May 6, then in his politics were Leonid Gozman, associates of Alexei Navalny Lyubov Sobol and Vladimir Milov, publicist Boris Kagarlitsky, IT expert Mikhail Klimarev, activist Natalya Baranova and editor-in-chief Denis Konstantinov of Oryol News, also a legal entity of the Apology human rights project.

To receive BBC news, subscribe to all channels:

Download application: