"Long abused by the government, the 2012 law was instrumental in causing self-censorship and a mass exodus of domestic and international outlets from Russia, as well as forcing the remaining independent media organizations underground" - IPI
The Russian Supreme Court has rejected appeals filed by journalist Lyudmila Savitskaya and activist Darya Apakhonchich against rulings by lower courts refusing to delete their names from the country's so-called registry of foreign agents.
After the Supreme Court judge pronounced his decision.
Some 60 Russian paratroopers from Pskov, Northern Russia, refused to fight the Ukrainians and left the battlefield to go home, defying orders from their superiors.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, most national independent media have been shuttered or blocked by the Kremlin. Draconian censorship laws have been hastily enacted. Across the country, non-state local media fight to survive and serve their readers under the new conditions.
On March 4, Russia adopted a new administrative statute and a draconian criminal law against "discrediting the armed forces." In the two weeks since, the country has seen a massive wave of repression against any form of criticism against the Kremlin's "special military operation" in Ukraine.