The “Team Against Torture” was declared a foreign agent in Russia

The Ministry of Justice of Russia entered the “Command Against Torture” in the register of foreign agents. This is reported in the Telegram channel of the organization.

“Today, we received a notification that on August 23, the Ministry of Justice made changes to the register of foreign agents. The agency added the Anti-Torture Team to the previously liquidated Committee against Torture to the list of NGOs-foreign agents,” the message says.

The “Team Against Torture” also stated that it continues to work and will appeal the decision of the Ministry of Justice.

• The Russian authorities can declare anyone who is under “foreign influence” a foreign agent, the definition of which is very vague in the law. There are now about 450 “foreign agents” in the register: individuals, mass media, NGOs and companies.
• The status of foreign agent obliges, among other things, to report quarterly on the movement of funds on personal accounts and to mark all public messages. Errors in the report or lack of marking are punishable up to imprisonment.
• From the end of 2022, “foreign agents” are prohibited from teaching in state institutions, organizing public events, serving in the army under contract, and being members of election commissions.