The Russian Justice Ministry has reported that the total amount of fines issued against designated “foreign agents” increased by 60 times, Kommersant reports, citing the ministry’s statement.
In 2022, the Russian media watchdog filed 156 reports against foreign agents, while the 2021 number was 58.
“The courts signed off on fines totalling 228.6 million rubles (€2.6 million) compared to 3.8 million rubles (€43,500) a year earlier,” Kommersant notes.
At the same time, due to the moratorium on planned inspections of NGOs, the Justice Ministry only filed two reports against “foreign agent” NGOs in 2022. In 2021, there were 24 of these instances.
A total of 188 people and organisations were added to the “foreign agent” list last year.
“The materials disseminated by the foreign agents ‘contained unconstructive criticism of government officials at various levels, decisions and laws adopted and developed, were aimed at discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, as well as at promoting LGBT relationship propaganda and undermining traditional Russian spiritual and moral values’," the ministry explained the growing number of “foreign agents”.
The designated “foreign agents” attempted to challenge the decision in courts 118 times. All complaints were dismissed.