Russia’s Supreme Court bans foreign agents from being election observers
[ad_1]
Those recognized in Russia as foreign agents cannot act as observers in elections or during a referendum. The corresponding decision was adopted by the plenum of the Supreme Court of Russia.
“A person who is a foreign agent is not entitled to carry out activities that promote or hinder the nomination of candidates, the election of registered candidates, the initiative to hold a referendum and the holding of a referendum, as well as participate in other forms in election campaigns, referendum campaigns. With this in mind, a person with the status of a foreign agent cannot be an observer at elections, a referendum, ”the draft resolution of the plenum states (quote from RAPSI).
The explanations of the Supreme Court refer specifically to the status of an observer, which was not previously officially classified under the paragraph of the Federal Law “On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence.” In addition, the resolution of the plenum states that foreign agents recognized in Russia will not be able to be proxies of candidates and electoral associations.
According to the Ministry of Justice, in 2022 in Russia foreign agents recognized 1.75 times more often than a year earlier, they were fined 2.7 times more often, and the amount of fines imposed on them increased 60 times at once. Last year, 188 people received foreign agent status against 108 in 2021.
On June 21, 2023, the State Duma considered two initiatives that tighten the legislation on foreign agents and introduce liability for those who help them circumvent the bans. As a result of the meeting, amendments to the basic law “On Control over the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence” and to the Code of Administrative Offenses were adopted in the first reading.
More details – in the material “Kommersant” “The highest measure of regulation”.
[ad_2]
Source link
