Vladimir Putin has signed three laws regarding foreign agent status, colluding with foreign agencies, and wartime economy mobilisation, Russia’s official laws website says.
The country’s government will be allowed to take “special economic measures” and force people to work outside their schedule, including state holidays, vacation terms, and overnight shifts. Russia’s private companies will not be allowed to reject state contracts should they be offered. The requestors, including the FSB, the Defence Ministry, the National Guard, and the Federal Rescue Service, will dictate terms of such forced “co-operation.”
Another law will punish people for “colluding with foreign security agencies.” This implies up to 8 years in prison and up to 1m rubles (€17,000) in fines. Russians found guilty of “switching sides in a military conflict” or “fighting for a foreign army” will face a minimum of 12 years behind bars, up to 20 years, and a 500,000 rubles fine should they fight “against Russia’s interests.”
Russians who possess “sensitive information” and attempt to leave the country will face up to 7 years of imprisonment. Those who “publicly call for violating state security” will face between 2 and 4 years in prison or 5 to 7 years if a “crime” is committed in a group or involves calls for violence. Repeated demonstrations of “extremist” symbols will be punished by up to 4 years in prison.
Finally, the new foreign agent law will allow Russia to declare their citizens “foreign agents” even if the people in question lack foreign financing. The concepts of “foreign influence” and “foreign-affiliated individual” have been defined. Starting from 1 December 2022, any Russian or foreign individuals or organisations may be declared “foreign agents” should they have “foreign support” or be under “foreign influence” and “pursue political activities.” However, the following activities are not considered political: protecting “traditional family values,” promoting cultural, scientific, healthcare, or sports programmes, as well as those aimed at protecting nature or charity.
A unified register of foreign agents will be set up; moreover, a separate register of “foreign-affiliated individuals” will be established, too, comprising people who either worked for organisations declared foreign agents or received money from them. The foreign agents will not be allowed to teach underaged citizens or produce any “information products” for them. They will also be barred from receiving state financial assistance, acting as experts in state environmental impact examinations, working at state positions, volunteering at state polls or organising public events.
