In the first two months of 2024, the Russian parliament has approved new laws ramping up pressure on journalists and public figures critical of the war on Ukraine. The provisions, which allow for the confiscation of property for those convicted of 鈥渇ake news鈥� and ban commercial advertising on media and other websites designated as 鈥渇oreign agents鈥�, seek to undermine journalists and media operating in exile while also increasing a culture of fear inside the country. The new laws were adopted two years after the enactment of wartime censorship in Russia, which forced many independent journalists to flee.
鈥淭hese new laws are clearly aimed at silencing and intimidating any remaining critical voices inside Russia as well as exiled journalists and media who continue to provide Russian audiences with independent news and information鈥�, IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said. 鈥淚PI strongly condemns these cynical efforts to threaten and financially undermine Russian exiled journalists, which show that the Kremlin鈥檚 repressive tactics are increasingly cross-border in an all-out effort to stop the public from hearing critical voices.鈥�
Confiscation of property
On January 24, the Russian state Duma (lower house of parliament) voted on a bill allowing for the confiscation of property under certain conditions of those sentenced for disseminating 鈥渇ake news鈥� about the Russian army. Property can also be confiscated based on 24 other charges linked to national security, according to the text of the law, which was by Vladimir Putin on February 14.
Russian journalists independently covering the war in Ukraine have been targeted by the country鈥檚 鈥渇ake news鈥� provisions and one of the new law鈥檚 co-authors, Russian MP Andrey Lugovoy, its targets are exiled public figures, including journalists. On the day Russia鈥檚 Duma approved the bill, he said: 鈥淔leeing the country is, of course, easy and pleasant (鈥�) But we will not allow this situation. Anyone who tries to cause damage to their homeland, country and citizens will lose everything and die there, outside our country, like the last dog,鈥� Lugovoy told journalists interviewing him at Russia鈥檚 parliament building.
Currently, the law foresees that only those found guilty of breaking the law due to 鈥渕ercenary motives鈥� can have their property in Russia confiscated. In addition, Russian human rights defenders have reported that the law cannot in principle be applied to already delivered sentences. Memorial, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Russian human rights group, the law鈥檚 main goal, rather than actual seizure of property, may be to 鈥渃reate an atmosphere of fear and suffocate the possibility to express oneself on topics considered 鈥榙angerous鈥� by the government鈥�.
As of March 2024, at least four Russian journalists are in prison for disseminating 鈥渇ake news鈥� about the Russian army, according to IPI monitoring. Several others in exile have been sentenced in absentia. At least two of them, Ruslan Leviev and Michael Nacke, were found guilty of disseminating 鈥渇ake news鈥� with 鈥渕ercenary motives鈥�.聽
Ban on commercials and royalty payments for 鈥渇oreign agents鈥�
In late February, the Russian Duma unanimously approved another measure targeting independent public figures: a ban on companies placing ads on websites, social media, and other digital platforms run by 鈥渇oreign agents鈥�. The text also bans third parties from receiving orders for commercials from such individuals and organizations. On March 11, this bill was by Vladimir Putin.
The parliament鈥檚 speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, justified this measure as a means of cutting off funding to independent voices. Violators of the law would face fines of up to 50,000 rubles for individuals or 300,000 rubles for companies as well as prison sentences in some cases.
The regulations will impact independent Russian media outlets that received the 鈥渇oreign agent鈥� designation and will further strip them of revenue. As of March 2024, in Russia hold this status. According to data compiled in May by Russian independent media outlet Verstka, journalists are by far the largest professional group on the list, of all the individuals designated as 鈥渇oreign agents鈥�.
The law鈥檚 effects are already being felt. On February 28, journalist Ekaterina Gordeeva, who hosts a popular YouTube channel on which she interviews Russian public figures, said the regulations were forcing her to. On March 6, however, she that she would attempt to continue with support from crowdfunding. Gordeeva was designated as a 鈥渇oreign agent鈥� following the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The upcoming law could force other exiled Russian bloggers to shut down their activities, too, as many have been designated as 鈥渇oreign agents鈥� while still relying on ads by Russian companies to support their activities.
Russian MPs are now also that would make it impossible for 鈥渇oreign agents鈥� to receive royalty payments. This measure would further whittle down funding sources聽 for writers and journalists designated as 鈥渇oreign agents鈥�.
As of March 11, IPI has identified no fewer than 129 cases in which Russian authorities have used 鈥渇oreign agent鈥� legislation to repress journalists and media for their reporting on the war in Ukraine.