The Russian authorities have labeled the XZ Foundation as undesirable within the country, a move that follows an evaluation requested by a State Duma deputy. The decision, announced after an inspection by the Prosecutor General’s Office, led to the foundation being designated as an undesirable organization in Russia. The XZ gGmbH was founded in 2022 in Germany by journalist Mikhail Zygar, who has previously been recognized as a foreign agent in Russia, along with partners, with Maya Stravinskaya serving as the general director. (citation: official statements, 2024)
In parallel developments, on February 20, the Ministry of Justice added Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to its list of foreign and international nongovernmental organizations deemed to be foreign agents and labeled undesirable in Russia. This step underscores the broader trend of tightening scrutiny on organizations considered to propagate activities assessed as hostile or detrimental to the state. (citation: ministry release, 2024)
Earlier, on December 13 of the previous year, a court fined journalist Zygar 30,000 rubles for violating regulations governing the operation of a foreign agent. A separate violation in August of the same year led to another fine of the same amount for failing to mark the work as that of a foreign agent. These penalties reflect the ongoing enforcement of laws governing foreign-funded or foreign-influenced media and civil society groups. (citation: court records, 2023-2024)
Additionally, the Russian Supreme Court introduced further limits on organizations labeled as foreign agents. They are prohibited from campaigning during election periods unless they themselves are candidates. This prohibition aims to prevent external entities from influencing electoral processes while restricting the advocacy activities of those designated as foreign agents. (citation: court ruling summaries, 2023-2024)
There have also been proposals within the State Duma to extend prohibitions on loans to foreign agencies, signaling continued legislative pressure on groups associated with foreign funding or influence. These measures illustrate a broader pattern of regulatory tightening aimed at maintaining tighter control over civil society and information flows. (citation: legislative records, 2024)
Overall, the convergence of these actions shows a sustained effort by Russian authorities to curb the operations of organizations perceived as foreign-influenced or non-aligned with official state policy. Analysts note that the evolving legal framework increases scrutiny on funding sources, branding practices, and public advocacy activities, shaping the environment in which international media and civil society groups operate within Russia. (citation: policy analysis reports, 2024)