Support The Moscow Times!

UN Urges Russia to Change 'Foreign Agent' Law

The logo of the United Nations atop the building in Bonn.

The United Nations has asked Russia to amend the country's so-called “foreign agent law,” the TASS news agency reported Monday.

“I continue to urge the [Russian] authorities to follow recommendations from UN bodies and to amend the law in accordance with Russia's international human rights obligations,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a session in Geneva.

The foreign agent law was introduced by President Vladimir Putin in 2012, and requires organizations involved in political activities while receiving money from abroad to register as “foreign agents.”

The term is seen as highly negative and was used in Soviet era to refer to spies and other enemies of the state. Several organizations have been fined or forced to close for refusing to use the label.

The Russian president signed a bill in June specifying political activity to include the organization or participation in meetings, the evaluation of officials' work, or the study the public opinion.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more