What threatens the new law on accomplices to foreign agents
Miscellaneous / / July 17, 2023
This offense is easy to commit unknowingly.
On June 13, State Duma deputies, without discussion, immediately adopted two laws in the second and third readings, which introduce liability for aiding a foreign agent. This is one of those offenses that are easy to commit out of ignorance. Therefore, it is important to understand it.
Who are foreign agents
On July 20, 2012, Russia adopted the first law about foreign agents. It was originally aimed at non-profit organizations that received money and property from others. states, or their representatives, or from residents of foreign countries, or from companies that are financed due to frontier. At the same time, a prerequisite for recognizing a company as a foreign agent was its participation in political activities - at least on paper.
Over the past 11 years, legislation in this area has acquired details. Now “Foreign agents” can be companies, media outlets, unregistered public associations and individuals (which can additionally be recognized as people performing media functions). In the relevant
registry now there are more than 600 organizations and people, and the list is regularly updated. For comparison: at the end of 2022, there were 493 items on the list.At the same time, anyone can formally become a foreign agent if it seems to the Ministry of Justice that a person receives support from another state or is under foreign influence. And all this is interpreted very broadly. So, support is understood not only material, but also other assistance. And the basis for awarding this status can be 10 dollars transferred to the account of a foreign friend, say, as a refund debt for a cup of coffee. With influence, it is even more difficult, since this is prescribed in the law as “influencing a person”, including by persuasion. That is, maybe a person on foreign Twitter has read a lot, and now he is broadcasting something wrong - well, it’s definitely a foreign agent.
They can also be recognized as a foreign agent if they do one of the following:
- conduct political activities;
- purposefully collect information in the field of military, military-technical activities of the Russian Federation - even if they are not classified and are available to everyone;
- distribute messages and materials intended for an unlimited circle of people or participate in their creation - accounts in social networks are also considered.
There are many requirements for foreign agents (we will talk about them below), which for individuals in particular often mean a ban on profession. But, fortunately, many will never face this status. Because the Ministry of Justice most often catches really large fish in its nets (although there are exceptions).
But the new law can bring problems to a wide range of people.
Why will accomplices of foreign agents be punished
Under the new law organizations, officials and individuals must take into account the restrictions associated with the status of a foreign agent. If an act or omission helps a foreign agent to break the law, then fine: citizens - by 30-50 thousand rubles, officials - by 70-100 thousand, legal - by 200-300 thousand. True, they will not be financially punished immediately. First, the Ministry of Justice must send a warning and give a month to fulfill the conditions.
Nevertheless, it is important to know what a foreign agent is supposed to do and what is forbidden to do, so as not to inadvertently fall into the field of view of the Ministry of Justice. Foreign agent, in particular, must:
- Report your status if you are engaged in political activities, distribute materials to the general public, or collect information about military activities. For example, indicate the status in posts in social networks or inquiries to government agencies. It is also necessary to report this to your founders, beneficiaries, employees. If we are talking about an organization, its founders, participants, leaders of a public association on the Internet must report that they are related to a foreign agent.
- Report on the activities and movement of finances. The requirements are slightly different for organizations and individuals, but both, for example, must notify the receipt of funds from foreign sources.
More bans. So, it is forbidden:
- Hold positions in government bodies, be a member of an election commission, a referendum commission, participate in the activities of commissions, committees, advisory, advisory, expert and other bodies in power.
- Conduct an independent anti-corruption expertise of regulatory legal acts.
- Organize public events.
- Engage in education of minors, teach in state and municipal educational institutions.
- To donate to political parties, and in general to participate in pre-election processes in any capacity.
- Participate in public procurement.
- To be an expert in the conduct of state environmental expertise.
This is in short, because the list involves many nuances. For what kind of misconduct one can become an accomplice of a foreign agent, it will be known later, when cases appear. But you can guess. Probably, if you organize an underground lecture by a foreign agent for teenagers and it becomes known, it will be the basis for punishment - as an action that helps to violate the law on foreign influence. If a bookstore starts selling books by foreign agents to minors, the same will happen, because such publications must be marked 18+.
When will the law go into effect
The law will enter into force 10 days after its official publication. So far, it has only been adopted in all readings in the State Duma. Then it must be approved by the Federation Council. The document is on the agenda of the 549th meeting, which will be held on July 19. It will be published after the signing by the President. That is, the exact date of entry into force of the law is still unknown, but it is unlikely that all procedures will take much time.
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