Russia’s Justice Ministry on Friday designated the anti-Kremlin political parties Peaceful Russia and Rassvet as “foreign agents” over accusations that they spread false information about the government and discredit the country’s electoral system.
Peaceful Russia was founded earlier this year by a group of exiled opposition figures, led by former Moscow councilman and political prisoner Ilya Yashin, to unite Russia’s fragmented anti-war movement and eventually challenge President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
In a statement, Yashin said his party “refuses” to accept the Justice Ministry’s designation and accused Putin and his administration of being “foreign agents.”
“Under the guise of false patriotism, these people are serving the interests of China and are turning our country into a mere resource appendage of China,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rassvet, founded by 2024 presidential hopeful Yekaterina Duntsova, denied allegations that it received foreign funding and suggested the Justice Ministry’s designation was illegal.
“Today, the authorities have confirmed their course toward the complete prohibition of opposition activity and opposition political parties in Russia,” the party said in a statement.
Neither Peaceful Russia nor Rassvet is an officially registered political party.
On Friday, the Justice Ministry added several other individuals and entities to its “foreign agents” list, including feminist activist and poet Galina Rymbu, publicist Boris Grozovsky, journalist Marat Temirov, as well as activists Lyudmila Garina and Nikita Rodkin and Marat Temirov.
A Telegram channel dedicated to anti-Kremlin occult healer Svetlana Lada-Rus was also added to the list, as was the investigative news outlet Razoblacheno after it was accused of issuing calls to take part in unauthorized protests.
Separately, the Justice Ministry added 10 exiled opposition figures to its newly created list of individuals subject to “temporary restrictive measures,” including journalists Yury Dud and Alexander Nevzorov, politicians Leonid Volkov and poet Dmitry Gudkov.
Putin established the registry in August, with its first listing of 12 opposition figures added on Oct. 23.
Legal experts describe inclusion in the list as a form of “civic death” because those added are denied consular support at Russian embassies abroad and are banned from selling Russian property, among other restrictions.
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.