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The Kremlin wants to tighten its controversial law against “foreign agents”. So far, the media and NGOs have been particularly affected – now the circle is to be expanded.
Until now, someone could be declared a foreign agent by the Russian authorities if he or she – or an organization – received money from abroad. With the tightening of the law, it is enough if someone is “under foreign influence” to be declared a foreign agent. It is completely unclear what that means, says the former Russia correspondent for Radio SRF, David Nauer.
There is a lot of room for interpretation
For example, whether someone attends a party with foreign journalists, eats with a foreign diplomat or has friends who are foreigners: “In the future, the Russian authorities could interpret all of this as ‘one is under foreign influence’ and the person as a foreign agent to explain.”
Now, in principle, every Russian can be declared a foreign agent.
Apart from the spongy wording of the law, arbitrariness is also a big problem. So far, activists and journalists in particular have been declared foreign agents, according to Nauer, who now works as a foreign editor in Bern. “Now, in principle, every Russian can be declared a foreign agent.”
Nauer gives a practical example: “As a foreign journalist, I take a taxi in Moscow and talk to the driver about politics. He then posts something critical on Facebook. That would probably be enough to declare him a foreign agent.”
Complete documentation required
But what does that mean in concrete terms when someone is targeted by the Russian criminal authorities as a “foreign agent”? The former Moscow correspondent knows a journalist who has already been declared a foreign agent. “She told me that she had to give the authorities an extremely detailed account of her personal expenses. She goes for coffee, she buys a new dress or a book: she has to list everything and submit it.”
This means that the Russian authorities basically know everything about this person, what their expenses and income are. “There are tremendous administrative burdens.” There are now other restrictions as well: For example, someone who is a “foreign agent” is no longer allowed to work as a teacher.
Emigration as a last resort
Many have tried to comply with these rules in the past, says Nauer. Even those who would have said: “I’m not going abroad, but I’m trying to come to terms with it somehow.” In the meantime, however, he is aware of numerous people who have been declared foreign agents “who have migrated simply and simply because it is too difficult, too costly, too tedious to fulfill all these legal harassment”.
The state makes life so difficult for the unpopular citizens that they go to the end.
That is ultimately the point behind the legislation, Nauer suspects: “That the state gets rid of such unpopular citizens that it would like to get rid of. He makes life so difficult for them that they go to the end.” This sword of Damocles now always hangs over the people. “After every meal with someone somewhere in Moscow or elsewhere, you could have problems.”
Foreigners should thus be considered dangerous elements from which it is better to stay away. “Russia is closing the bulkheads this way, the Kremlin wants it that way.”