The government has approved amendments that tighten criminal liability for 'foreign agents'.

The Russian government has approved a bill that would strengthen criminal liability for violating “foreign agent” legislation. This was announced by Vasily Piskarev, head of the State Duma committee investigating foreign interference in Russia’s internal affairs.

According to the bill, amendments will be made to parts 1 and 2 of Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code, which concerns violations of the duties of a “foreign agent.” The amendments remove the requirement that criminal prosecution can only take place after a “foreign agent” administrative protocol (Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences) has entered into force within one year.

This change would allow law enforcement officers to initiate criminal cases without any prior administrative proceedings.

The bill has not yet been submitted to the State Duma.

In May, Oleg Sviridenko, Deputy Minister of Justice of Russia, announced planned amendments to the “foreign agent” law. He stated that the authorities intend to further tighten criminal liability for “foreign agents.”