The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation has placed Moscow State University associate professor Mikhail Lobanov on the registry of foreign agents, according to a statement from the department’s press office.
The ministry stated that Lobanov participated in the development of informational materials for foreign agents, spoke against the special operation, and disseminated information that misrepresented policies and decisions issued by the public authorities of the Russian Federation.
Additionally, businessman Leonid Nevzlin appeared on the foreign agents list. The ministry noted that Nevzlin, along with others, was involved in creating and spreading information to a broad audience that opposes the special operation in Ukraine, as well as spreading allegations about the policy of the Russian authorities and making speeches in support of Ukraine’s armed forces. The ministry added that Nevzlin resides outside Russia.
The roster of foreign agents also includes the Conscious Objectors Movement and the Action Community Center, among five other entities.
Former Justice Ministry actions flagged director Vitaly Mansky as a foreign agent, along with economist Sergei Aleksashenko, and three additional individuals who were placed on the registry thereafter.
These disclosures reflect the ministry’s ongoing program to identify individuals and groups described as distributing materials intended to influence public opinion in relation to Russia’s government actions. Officials emphasize that the designation affects public communication and monitoring, noting that such designations involve legal and administrative procedures designed to inform the public about the nature of activities associated with these entities. Observers point out that the designation often triggers questions about freedom of expression and the duties of individuals connected to institutions and organizations operating across borders. In official statements, the ministry maintains that the primary aim of the foreign agents regime is transparency in how materials reach audiences and how international and domestic information flows intersect with national policy. Attribution: Ministry of Justice press operations.