The Russian Ministry of Justice added Mikhail Kasyanov, who led the government from May 17, 2000, to February 24, 2004, to the list of foreign agents recognized in the Russian Federation. The ministry described him as having participated in the creation and distribution of materials for foreign agents, disseminating information that criticized decisions by Russian public authorities and the policies pursued by the Russian government. He was cited as opposing the Ukrainian military operation and taking part in information platforms associated with foreign groups. He is identified as a member of Russia’s Anti-War Committee.
In addition to Kasyanov, the list named other individuals and entities, including historian Ilya Venyavkin, journalists Ilya Davlyatchin and Idris Yusupov, and LLC Ludi, as foreign agents in Russia. Davlyatchin is noted as having foreign agent status in the Russian Federation.
During the period discussed, the St. Petersburg Russian PEN Club was removed from the foreign agents register due to liquidation, after having been included on the list by the Ministry of Justice. In mid-November, the Ministry added several other names to the foreign agents list, including the organization Team Against Torture, the Moscow Times publication, and actress Yana Troyanova, all recognized as foreign agents in the Russian Federation.
Earlier statements in the Duma had called for restricting financial interactions with foreign agencies. The overall context shows ongoing regulatory actions aimed at identifying and labeling organizations and individuals perceived as influencing Russian public life from abroad. These actions have drawn mixed responses domestically and internationally, highlighting tensions around information, media independence, and political activity within Russia.