MOSCOW (AFP) – Russia today placed respected journalist and Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Dmitry Muratov on a list of foreign agents, a label often used by authorities to silence critics.
Russia’s designation of Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s main independent newspaper, as a foreign agent is part of a broader crackdown on respected civil society institutions. Since it launched an attack on Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has stepped up efforts to eradicate dissidents.
Reasoning for the decision, Russia’s justice ministry said Muratov “used foreign platforms to disseminate opinions with the aim of creating a negative attitude towards Russia’s foreign and domestic policy,” and accused Muratov of compiling and disseminating other foreign agents human content.
The New Paper website mentioned: “What is there to comment? If you need comments, please contact the Ministry of Justice.” It also said that the list of foreign agents now includes 674 “respectable” people and organizations.
The label, reminiscent of the Soviet-era term “enemy of the people,” imposes draconian administrative restrictions and requires disclosure of funding sources, as well as forcing foreign agents to attach the label to all publications, including postings on social media. Making foreign agents and those who share content potentially subject to heavy fines.
The foreign agent designation is part of a series of legislation the Kremlin has used to silence critics, including a tougher “undesirable organization” label.
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2023-09-02 07:20:03
