Deputies from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation have urged the Ministry of Justice to revoke the foreign agent designation assigned to Moscow deputy mayor Pavel Ivanov, who is already listed as a foreign agent in the federation. An advocate among the signatories, State Duma deputy Denis Parfenov, explained to socialbites.ca that Ivanov’s status appears unfounded and may have been used to bar him from the upcoming Moscow City Duma elections.
Parfenov argued that foreign agent status should apply to individuals who act on behalf of foreign powers and receive funding from them. In Ivanov’s case, the opposite is claimed. He has long led humanitarian aid efforts for Donetsk and Lugansk, having made several visits there. He is described as a party activist, a candidate for the Central Committee, and a current municipal deputy from the party. According to Parfenov, these facts disqualify him from being labeled a foreign agent. He suggested that the move was likely a tactic to prevent Ivanov from running in the Central Administrative District for the Moscow City Duma elections, reflecting a broader frustration with the bold political stance Ivanov has taken in recent years. Parfenov asserted that some interests want to dilute the electoral process, and he believed the status was assigned with that goal in mind, effectively sidelining Ivanov from the race.
The deputy acknowledged uncertainty about how the ministry leadership will respond but personally maintained hope for a favorable outcome. He criticized what he described as an impulsive practice by authorities, labeling the foreign agent tag as an ugly, arbitrary label that carries long-term political consequences. He admitted a concern about appearing naive, yet he remained convinced that not everyone in power has forsaken integrity. He noted that a nomination conference is scheduled the day after tomorrow, and while the designation may prevent Ivanov from officially running, the party would continue to support him. He suggested that once the nomination phase concludes and authorities see the intended purpose achieved, the status might be reversed.
Parfenov also explained why the party did not back former Mundapist Yevgeny Stupin, already recognized as a foreign agent, and other communist figures labeled foreign agents, emphasizing that these cases are distinct. He recalled that Evgeniy Stupin first faced expulsion from the party before receiving foreign agent status, whereas Ivanov remains an active party member and current municipal deputy. Parfenov stressed that differing circumstances require different approaches.
Kommersant reported that Sergei Obukhov and Denis Parfenov, both deputies with the Communist Party in the State Duma, asked the Ministry of Justice to review the possibility of removing Pavel Ivanov from the foreign agents registry. The move marks the first instance of a parliamentary party defending a colleague currently listed as a foreign agent.
The Ministry of Justice added Pavel Ivanov to the foreign agents list on May 31. Official documents cited Ivanov’s repeated organization and participation in unauthorized public events, dissemination of information deemed false about the decisions and policies of Russian authorities, and involvement with materials produced by foreign agents.
It had previously been reported that Ekaterina Duntsova, likewise recognized in Russia as a foreign agent, planned to challenge the status they held.