On Thursday, Russian lawmakers approved a legislation that would facilitate the prosecution of individuals or organizations classified as “foreign agents” by law enforcement.

If enacted, the proposed law would permit criminal charges to be filed based on a single breach of the “foreign agents” regulations. Currently, legal action can only be initiated after two infractions occur within the same calendar year.

The bill successfully completed its third and final reading in the State Duma on Thursday and now awaits the Federation Council’s approval before it can be presented to President Vladimir Putin for his signature.

The government has increasingly applied the term “foreign agent”—which carries negative associations from the Soviet era—to individuals and groups that receive foreign funding.

Entities designated as “foreign agents” are required to submit comprehensive quarterly financial statements to the Justice Ministry and include clear disclaimers on all their publications and social media content.

Since the term was first introduced in 2012, nearly 1,000 individuals, organizations, and media outlets, including The Moscow Times, have been labeled as “foreign agents.”

In 2022, the law was expanded to encompass any form of foreign support—not only financial—as a basis for the “foreign agent” designation. This revision also granted authorities the ability to block websites without needing a court order and prohibited “foreign agents” from accessing state funds, working with minors, or teaching at state universities.

In April 2025, the legislation was further extended to classify those who engage others in collecting military-related intelligence that may be used against Russia as “foreign agents.”

In the same month, Putin enacted additional legislation prohibiting “foreign agents” from conducting educational or awareness-raising activities, receiving assistance from local governments, or serving on the boards of state corporations. These new restrictions took effect on September 1.