Council Of Europe Blasts Russia s Branding Of Five Journalists, Activists As Foreign Agents
December 29, 2020 15:09 GMT
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The Council of Europe says it is concerned about Russia branding individuals as foreign agents after Moscow added five people to a registry that activists say is used as a way to clamp down on dissent.
The council, one of the continent s leading human rights organizations, said in a statement on December 29 that the move and the foreign agent law in general stifles the development of civil society and freedom of expression.
The comment comes a day after Russia said it had placed five people three journalists who contribute to RFE/RL and two human rights activists on the Justice Ministry s registry of foreign mass media performing the functions of a foreign agent.
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Russia has for the first time branded individuals as foreign agents, including three who contribute to RFE/RL.
Five journalists or activists in total were added to the Russian Justice Ministry s registry of foreign mass media performing the functions of a foreign agent on December 28.
Previously only foreign-funded, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and rights groups were placed on the registry, in keeping with Russia s passage of its controversial foreign-agents law in 2012. The law was later expanded to include media outlets and independent journalists.
Inclusion on the registry imposes additional restrictions, such as the obligation to provide regular financial reports on activities and in the way publications are labeled.