On Monday, President Vladimir Putin enacted legislation that broadens the criteria for designating individuals and organizations as “foreign agents.” This new law specifically targets Russians who have connections with foreign government bodies and international organizations with which Russia is not affiliated.

The revised law also allows authorities to label as “foreign agents” those who attempt to recruit others to gather military intelligence that could potentially be used against Russia.

The government applies the “foreign agent” designation, reminiscent of the Soviet era, to identify individuals and entities perceived as adversaries of the state. Those assigned this label must submit detailed financial reports to the Justice Ministry and include “foreign agent” disclaimers in their publications and social media communications.

Since its inception in 2012, nearly 1,000 individuals, organizations, and media outlets, including The Moscow Times, have been designated as “foreign agents.”

In 2022, the law was further expanded, broadening the scope to encompass not only foreign funding but also any foreign support as a basis for this designation. This amendment also empowered authorities to close websites without requiring a court order, prohibited designated individuals from receiving government funding, and restricted them from working with minors or teaching at state universities.

Additionally, a separate law signed by Putin on Monday prohibits “foreign agents” from participating in educational or awareness-raising activities, receiving support from local government bodies, or serving on the boards of state corporations. This regulation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.