On 10 April 2026, Russia鈥檚 Ministry of Justice designated Russian journalist Petr Ruzavin as a 鈥渇oreign agent鈥�. Authorities that he spread 鈥渇ake news 鈥� about the decisions of the Russian government, opposed Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and participated in the creation and dissemination of content created by other 鈥渇oreign agents鈥� as well as 鈥渦ndesirable organizations鈥�, among other accusations.
Petr Ruzavin previously worked with Russian independent media TV Rain, Proekt and MediaZona. While in 2024 he joined the Ukrainian army as a volunteer, the Russian Ministry of Justice’s decision clearly designated his publications, not his service in the Ukrainian army, as the reason for his “foreign agent” designation.
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.