On 25 September 2026, Russia鈥檚 Ministry of Justice journalist Maxim Kurnikov as a 鈥渇oreign agent鈥�. Authorities that he spread 鈥渕aterials with anti-Russian messaging”, participated in the creation and dissemination of content created by other 鈥渇oreign agents鈥� and opposed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, among other accusations.
Kurnikov is known as a radio journalist who formerly worked with Echo of Moscow, and who is currently the editor-in-chief of Echo, a project in exile alluding to Echo of Moscow. Kurnikov also works as an editor for the Russian-language version of the German media outlet Bild.
Initially adopted in 2012, Russia鈥檚 law on foreign agents has been revised several times over the past decade to include an ever-wider range of potential targets for state-sponsored discrimination. Currently, any organization, media or private individual聽聽as such simply by being declared to be 鈥渦nder foreign influence鈥� by the Russian Ministry of Justice or because of receiving funds of any amount from abroad (or from an entity itself receiving foreign funds). 鈥淔oreign agents鈥� are barred from receiving state financing, teaching at state universities, working with minors and providing expertise on environmental issues, among multiple other restrictions.