Satirist and writer Viktor Szenderowicz, collector Marat Gilman, singers from the Pussy Riot group Nadia Tołokonnikowa and Weronika Nikulszyna were placed on the list of “foreign agents” in Russia. The local justice department expanded the registry on Thursday.
Wiktor Szenderowicz is a satirical writer and columnist for The New Times. Marat Gilman, who sat in the Civic Chamber and founded the Perm Museum of Contemporary Art, was a longtime supporter of Vladimir Putin and was an advisor to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during the Orange Revolution. And over time, he began to criticize the Russian authorities, for which he was punished. He was removed from the position of director of a museum he had created himself.
Among the new “foreign clients”, initially referred to as mainly corporate entities (eg the Memorial Association or Radio Swoboda recognized as illegal a few days ago), were on Thursday female singers from the Pussy Riot group – Nadia Tokonnikova and Veronica Nikolzina.
As of Thursday, the list also includes the name of journalist Jelena Wiedekina, head of the Sievier.realia (North. Realia) project sponsored by Radio Swoboda, editor-in-chief of the magazine “Holod” – Taisia Biekbułatov, film producer and founder of the Yaroslav Neft Film Club – Andrei Alexeyev. In the latter’s opinion, he was included in the list because he organized shows with the support of the German establishment. Friedrich Naumann promotes liberalism.
Nadia Tołokonnikowa and Weronika NikulszynaKay Netfield / DPA / PAP / EPA
111 names in the list
In total, by decision of the Ministry, the names of eight people were added to the list. It now houses a total of 111 names of Russian cultural activists and journalists, writes Radio Swoboda on its website. 94 names made it to the list in 2021.
“The expansion of the census by journalists from Radio Soboda brings the number of our partners described as ‘foreign agents’ to 18,” said Jimmy Flay, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Thursday. . He emphasized that this would not stand in the way of the mission that Radio Swoboda is committed to fulfilling to Russian listeners.
Nadia Tolkonikova, in turn, announced that she would not call her texts and comments on social media with the inscription “foreign agent”, which she is obliged by law. She announced that she would pursue her rights in court.
Wiktor Sendrovic called Thursday’s Justice Ministry’s decision the “last chord” in depriving society of liberty. – The authorities push us out of the country and force us to flee, migrate internally and hide. In fact, they may succeed in this, despite all the attendant unreservedness. Nothing new – said Szenderowicz in an interview with Svoboda. He stressed that Putin’s regime and freedom are mutual.
Russia presents a list of so-called “foreign customers”
Journalists dominate recognized foreign forces agents on Thursday. In 2017, legislation was adopted in Russia according to which foreign media in this country can be considered spies.
Granting them this status meant that these media were subject to the same restrictive requirements that were adopted in Russia in 2012 for NGOs. The new law was applied to American media – Voice of America, Radio Soboda and many other related media projects.
Recently, restrictive laws have been applied to NGOs and dissidents, while in Russia there are more and more voices that a highly restrictive law should be liberalized, commentators assert.
Main image source: Kay Netfield / DPA / PAP / EPA
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