Putin signed a law banning advertising on the resources of “foreign agents”

On March 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill previously approved by the parliament, prohibiting Russian citizens and companies from placing advertisements on the information resources of so-called foreign agents, as well as advertising these resources themselves.

The document has been published on the Russian portal of legal information, which means that it has entered into force.

Deputies of the State Duma previously approved the draft law, arguing that the availability of “foreign agents” opportunities to earn money in Russia “causes Russians to be outraged.”

A number of independent public and journalistic projects reported forced suspension of work after the State Duma approved the draft law. In particular, the YouTube channel “Tell Gordeeva” announced its closure. However, its author, Kateryna Gordeeva, entered in the register of “foreign agents”, reported that the project would seek other sources of funding and would continue its work for the time being. The creator of the “Editorial” project, Aleksey Pyvovarov, who was also entered by the Russian authorities in the register of “foreign agents”, also reported serious staff reductions. He intends to hand over the project itself to the editors.

• The Russian authorities can declare anyone who is under “foreign influence” a foreign agent, the definition of which is very vague in the law. For this, it is not even necessary to receive financing from foreign sources. Now there are more than 570 “foreign agents” in the register: individuals, mass media, NGOs and companies.
• The first “foreign agents” appeared in Russia more than 10 years ago. The authorities then declared that it was only about informing the public that this or that organization receives foreign funding. However, the legislation is constantly amended, imposing new obligations on “foreign agents” and directly discriminating against them. From the end of 2022, in particular, “foreign agents” are prohibited from teaching in state institutions, organizing public events, serving in the army under contract, and being members of election commissions.