Russia designates independent Mediazona news outlet as 'foreign agent'
The ministry said Mediazona spread false information about law enforcement and anti-war content, as Russia keeps expanding a label used against hundreds since 2012.
- On Friday, Russia's Justice Ministry re-designated the independent Mediazona news outlet as a "foreign agent," returning the exiled outlet to the state registry after its original legal entity was liquidated.
- Mediazona was initially branded a "foreign agent" in 2021, but the Justice Ministry removed it from the registry after the liquidation of its original LLC. The outlet now operates from abroad with staff working outside Russia.
- The Justice Ministry claimed Mediazona "disseminated false information about Russia's law enforcement system." Officials also cited the outlet's anti-war reporting and distribution of content from other "foreign agents" and "undesirable" organizations.
- Separately, editor Yegor Skovoroda described the ministry's statement as "incredibly crazy." Russian state communications regulator Roskomnadzor had previously blocked Mediazona's website within Russia in March 2022, shortly after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
- The "foreign agent" designation carries negative Soviet-era connotations and subjects those labeled to extra government scrutiny. Russia has opened criminal cases against several Mediazona journalists working abroad, including editor-in-chief Sergei Smirnov.
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7 Articles
Russia Tightens Grip on Mediazona: A Second 'Foreign Agent' Designation
Russia's Justice Ministry has again branded Mediazona, an independent news outlet, as a 'foreign agent.' This label implies foreign influence and heightened government oversight. Despite being previously removed from the list, the outlet faces renewed scrutiny amidst broader crackdowns on press freedom in the country since the Ukraine invasion.
Russia designates independent Mediazona news outlet as 'foreign agent'
Russia's Justice Ministry on Friday declared the independent Mediazona news outlet a "foreign agent", a designation used to label foreign-funded organisations that it says are engaged in political activity.
Justice Ministry Re-Adds Exiled News Outlet Mediazona to ‘Foreign Agents’ List
Russia’s Justice Ministry on Friday re-designated the exiled news outlet Mediazona as a “foreign agent,” returning it to the state registry after the liquidation of its original legal entity previously forced its removal.
The Ministry of Justice has re-listed Mediasona on the register of "foreign agents" from the report on the agency's website...
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