Parliamentary committees in Russia have introduced a package of measures aimed at tightening the foreign agents regime and shielding sovereignty from external influence. The proposals enjoy broad support in the lower house, with about 400 deputies in attendance and the leadership of Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. The trio of bills outlines how foreign funding is tracked, who can be declared a foreign agent, and what penalties follow violations. Analysts say the move mirrors ongoing concerns about national security, civil society, and the media landscape inside the country. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]
The first bill would authorize hearings and verdicts in absentia for twenty specified crimes when the offender is outside Russia. The list includes calls for terrorism, extremism, actions damaging Russia’s territorial integrity, incitement to mass unrest, and aggression. Under current rules, in absentia proceedings apply to serious or especially serious crimes; the draft would broaden this to allow court action in absentia in cases where the accused is abroad and the offence relates to public security or national sovereignty. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]
The second initiative targets efforts that discredit the armed forces or advocate anti-Russian sanctions. It would move these acts into the criminal domain, enabling prosecutors to initiate cases for such offences. The bill also contemplates administrative penalties and possible seizure of property in certain circumstances. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]
The third bill expands the grounds for declaring someone a foreign agent. It would cover individuals and groups involved in activities or financing aimed at harming Russia’s interests. It also includes people who collect or transmit military or technical information that could be used by foreign actors to threaten the nation’s security. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]
Experts note that the proposed criteria for foreign agent status could be broad enough to touch a wide range of actors, including non-governmental organizations, media outlets, researchers, and political activists who interact with or receive funding from overseas sources. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]
Parliamentary discussions also included a provision proposing up to five years in prison for discrediting the Russian armed forces or for calls to impose sanctions against the country. The measure targets speech and actions both inside and outside national borders and raises questions about how such provisions would be enforced in a global information environment. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]
Analysts caution that expanding the foreign agent framework could have wide implications for civil society, journalism, and international collaboration. While the stated aim is to bolster security and sovereignty, critics warn about chilling effects, self-censorship, and greater scrutiny of researchers, media workers, and independent groups. [Source: Parliamentary Briefing]