Week-ending 1 October 2021
This week the FSB published a 60-item list of information concerning Russia’s military, space agency and security services that, while not classified as state secrets, ‘foreign states, organisations and citizens can use against Russia’s security.’ The Moscow Times comments that, according to the list, publishing information about ‘military crimes, troop morale, or the size, weapons, deployments, traning and structure of the Russian armed forces and other security bodies are all grounds for a news outlet to be labeled a “foreign agent”.’ The Guardian notes that such restrictions would extend to all who ‘study and report on the problems faced by the country’s military, space agency and security services, as well as the millions of people who serve in those agencies.’ The decree of the FSB was issued on 28 September 2021 under Article 2.1, Part 1, of Federal Law No. 272-FZ of 28 December 2012 ‘On means to act on persons involved in violations of basic human rights and freedoms and rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation‘ and in accordance with Point 1 of the Provisions of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation confirmed by the Presidential Decree of the Russian Federation on 11 August 2003 No. 960.
Sources:
The Guardian, 1 October 2021: Russians who study and report on the problems faced by the country’s military, space agency and security services, as well as the millions of people who serve in those agencies, can now be named foreign agents, as Russia expands restrictions on its own citizens under the controversial law. Russia’s main security service has published a comprehensive, 60-item list of topics that could lead to individuals who so much as share reports of physical abuse or official corruption on social media being added to a quickly growing register of “foreign agents” who must file extensive financial reports and face other restrictions.
The Moscow Times, 1 October 2021: News organizations in Russia risk being labeled “foreign agents” for covering corruption, crime and other issues within the military and space industries, under new rules that will likely further strain the country’s media landscape. The Federal Security Service (FSB) published a 60-point list of information Tuesday that is not classified as a state secret, but which “foreign states, organizations and citizens can use against Russia’s security.” According to the list, covering military crimes, troop morale, or the size, weapons, deployments, training and structure of the Russian armed forces and other security bodies are all grounds for a news outlet to be labeled a “foreign agent.”
Federal Law No. 272-FZ of 28 December 2012 ‘On means to act on persons involved in violations of basic human rights and freedoms and rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation‘: ConsultantPlus
Provisions of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation confirmed by the Presidential Decree of the Russian Federation on 11 August 2003 No. 960: ConsultantPlus
