Mikhail Benyash

Starting from December 2020, any individual, regardless of their citizenship, can be recognized as a “foreign agent” if in the opinion of the Russian government they: a) do political activities in the interest of “foreign sources,” which include foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign citizens, b) do a purposeful collection of the information in fields of military and military-technical activities of the Russian Federation, c) are under the “influence” of a foreign source. Who recognizes: Ministry of Justice of Russian Federation. Responsibilities and limitations: A person, recognized as an individual foreign agent, has to point out the possessiveness of this status while doing activities related to the functions of the foreign agent and to provide a report about their activity to the Ministry of Justice. Individuals that perform the functions of the foreign agent, cannot hold positions in state and municipal service, and also cannot get access to the state secret. Administrative liability: Spreading in mass media and on the internet information about individual “foreign agents” without mentioning that they are foreign agents, a fine up to 50 thousand roubles (part 2.2 paragraph 13.15 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Failure to submit or untimely submission of reports to the Ministry of Justice-fine up to 50 thousand roubles (paragraph 19.7.5-4 of the Code of Administrative Offences) If a person does not mark themselves as a foreign agent in cases provided by law-fine up to 30 thousand roubles (paragraph 19.7.5-4 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Criminal liability: If an individual foreign agent does not fulfill obligations provided by law and has previously been held administratively liable because of this, a fine up to 300 thousand roubles or imprisonment for up to five years (paragraph 330.1 of the Criminal Code).