Vyacheslav Volodin, who chairs Russia’s State Duma, raised the idea of blocking foreign organizations from receiving royalties tied to copyright and related rights. The plan, Volodin argues, should be broadened to cover a wider set of measures. MP Andrei Alshevskikh, speaking with the TV channel 360, called for a sweeping move: a complete shutdown of foreign agents from operating within Russia’s social media landscape.
In outlining the new restrictions, the deputy emphasized that it is important to recognize that foreign agents include individuals who remain in Russia and still uphold their honor despite political disagreements. The presentation suggested a nuanced split of foreign agents into two groups, rather than treating them as a monolithic bloc. The first group comprises those who have not lived in Russia for long and do not intend to harm the country, whereas the second group consists of those who openly express hostility toward Russia, who are abroad, and who openly admit that the money they earn will fund activities connected to Ukraine’s armed forces.
Alshevsky asserted that the policies are aimed primarily at foreign agents who have left the country and voiced criticism of Russia’s direction. He argued for tighter controls on the ability of such individuals to profit financially from any activity tied to Russia, stating that the financial stream should be curbed in order to limit influence coming from abroad.
According to the deputy, a complete ban on advertising that features foreign agents was proposed, with no regard for the source of the funding. He also proposed restricting foreign agents from using social networks as a temporary measure and explained that a more stringent approach might be necessary. The assessment shared by Alshevsky is that a period of lax policies toward foreign agents has passed, and a more decisive stance is now warranted to address perceived risks.
Under his view, foreign agents who reside outside Russia should be barred from accessing social networks while their status as foreign agents remains in effect. He argued that manifestations of political activity online, including calls for participation in events that may be unauthorized, create a risk profile that justifies such limitations as part of a broader effort to manage influence and information flows.
It bears recalling that Volodin has also floated the possibility of withholding royalties for copyright and related rights from foreign representatives. He contends that this approach would cut off income streams that keep those who speak unfavorably about Russia financially supported, effectively denying them sustenance from the country they critique. The issue has been described as one that MPs are prepared to revisit and discuss in further detail in the near term, as part of a wider reassessment of how foreign agents participate in public life during and after their association with Russia.
Analysts and observers have noted previous efforts to restrict advertising for resources and sites linked to foreign agencies, highlighting a pattern of policy moves designed to narrow the online visibility and practical reach of foreign-influenced messaging. The current proposals are viewed by supporters as a way to align public discourse with national priorities and to reduce external leverage that could influence political and social sentiments within the country. Critics, meanwhile, caution about potential impacts on freedom of expression and on the practicalities of enforcing such measures across international online platforms. The dialogue continues as lawmakers weigh the balance between security concerns and open dialogue, with the aim of shaping a stable information environment that serves domestic interests without severing channels of legitimate communication.