The Russian Ministry of Justice has published a unified register listing individuals and entities declared as foreign agents. The document appears in PDF format and spans 15 pages, covering data on 493 organizations and people.
The registry includes both individuals identified as media foreign agents and other entities such as media outlets, foundations, and non-profit groups that are designated as foreign agents. It also lists legal structures alongside individuals and households, signaling a broad scope of coverage that touches several kinds of legal entities and persons.
Within the record, more personal data appears for some entries: dates of birth for individuals and registration numbers (PSRN) and tax identifiers (TIN) for legal entities. The table also records the basis for each inclusion and the date of the inclusion decision. Although fields exist for SNILS numbers and geographical addresses, these have not yet been filled in. The registry also links to online resources for certain legal entities and includes the names and addresses of members associated with such organizations.
Officials note that the law imposes multiple restrictions on foreign agents, including individuals who are named as such. The ministry explains that publishing certain details, such as birth dates and tax numbers, helps to clearly identify these persons and comply with legal requirements.
The ministry emphasizes that the registry is publicly accessible on its website, with the depth of information set by the government. For first-time entrants, there is a streamlined process allowing them to leave the registry upon an expedited decision by the Minister of Justice or a deputy after a formal application.
Additional context on foreign agent listings
Human rights advocate and lawyer Pavel Chikov notes that the registry still contains entries for individuals or groups once listed as foreign agents but later delisted, with dates indicating when that status changed. This means the total number of registry entries can exceed the current number of active foreign agents.
Konstantin Dobrynin, a senior partner at the Pen and Paper Bar Association, told RBC that publishing a person’s private data in open sources breaches constitutional privacy protections and raises concerns about legal equality when new rules appear. In contrast, Igor Semenovsky, a senior lecturer at a government-linked university, argues that foreign agent activities are public and political in nature and that constitutional protections primarily safeguard private life.
Critics, including the Presidential Human Rights Council during the drafting phase, warned that the criteria for recognizing foreign agents could expand without justification. They argued this broadening could undermine labor rights and limit access to certain professions, notably in education.
By December 1, the Justice Department had accumulated several registers, including those for foreign agents, alongside records for media outlets, NGOs, individuals, and unregistered civil groups. The updated record aligned with the federal law On the Control of the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence, which had recently taken effect.
The policy framework makes clear that anyone receiving external support or being under external influence may become a foreign agent. Previously, foreign financing was the sole criterion for designation. A separate register tracks people associated with foreign agents, with affiliates defined as members of organs of entities recognized as foreign agents.
Foreign agent status emerged in 2012 through amendments to the Russian NGO laws and expanded to media in 2017 and to individuals in 2020. Those labeled as foreign agents face reporting obligations, labeling requirements on public messages, and penalties for non-compliance. The rules restrict the ability to organize public events, provide education or training to minors, create information products for young people, access government funds, and participate in government procurement to meet municipal and state needs. These provisions reflect the government’s goal of increased oversight and transparency in activities funded from external sources, with broad implications for civil society and media.