The project of Transparency International was recognized as a “foreign agent” in the Russian Federation

The Russian Ministry of Justice has added to the list of foreign agents the public projects «Transparency International — Russia in Exile» and «Country and World. Sakharov Review», journalists Danylo Belyakov and Alexei Kovalev, rapper Legalize, and priest Andriy Lvov.

This is reported by Radio Liberty.

«Transparency International» is a public organization that fights corruption. The «Transparency International – Russia» project was founded in 1999. In 2015, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation added «Transparency International – Russia» to the register of «foreign agents». In 2023, Transparency International was recognized as «undesirable» in Russia. In October 2023, activists, who mostly left the Russian Federation, launched the project «Transparency International – Russia in Exile». The leadership stated that it would continue the civil opposition to corruption in the Russian Federation, in particular the investigation of money laundering in the financing of military projects.

The magazine «Country and Peace: Sakharov Review» was created by the team of the Moscow Sakharov Center, which was liquidated by the Russian authorities in 2023. The magazine aims to «analyze the current Russian political regime and the state of society, understand how Russian history led to the establishment of a dictatorship in the country and the launch of an unjust and aggressive war in Ukraine, and what the path to peace might be».

The famous Russian rap artist Legalize (real name Andrei Menshikov), winner of the MTV Russia Music Awards, was also included in the list of «foreign agents». After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Legalize recorded an anti-war clip «Peace!! To You!! with the D.O.B. project. Home!!» and emigrated to Lithuania.

Danilo Belyakov is the editor of the Vladimir publication «Resonance». The publication, like Belyakov himself, condemned Russia's war in Ukraine. In December 2022, the «Resonance» website was blocked by Roskomnadzor. Belyakov explained that the blocking was related to instructions published on the website on how to avoid mobilization. Belyakov left Russia in April 2022 after a search in a criminal case.

Alexey Kovalev is the former head of the investigations department of the «Meduza» publication, which is also included in the register of «foreign agents» in Russia and recognized as an «undesirable organization». After the start of the full-scale war, he left Russia.

Andriy Lvov – a priest from Ivanovo. In December 2022, the head of the ROC, Kirill, approved the decision of the church court to deprive Lvov of his rank. Lvov currently serves as a priest of the Cathedral Orthodox Apostolic Church. He spoke out against the war and political repressions. After the death of Alexei Navalny, Lvov served a memorial service for him near the Solovetsky Stone in St. Petersburg.

As reported, legislation on «foreign agents» appeared in Russia in 2012. The law allowed the Ministry of Justice to recognize non-profit organizations as foreign agents if they receive funding from abroad and engage in political activities. The criteria by which such activities are determined are not clearly defined in the law.

Later, it became possible to recognize media outlets and individuals as agents, including those that do not receive foreign funding but are «under foreign influence». Russian legislation does not specify what exactly should be considered foreign influence.