The court recognized the foreign agency status of the editor-in-chief of “Mediazona” Sergei Smirnov

The Moscow City Court rejected the appeal of the editor-in-chief of Mediazona (recognized as a foreign agent) Sergei Smirnov (foreign media agent) and recognized the inclusion of the journalist in the register of individuals-foreign agents as legal, reported “RIA News” in the press office of the court. Earlier, Sergei Smirnov said that recognition as a foreign agent infringes on his rights, is an invasion of journalistic activity and private life.

Mr. Smirnov filed a lawsuit demanding that his inclusion in the register be declared illegal in December last year, simultaneously with the publisher of Mediazona, Pyotr Verzilov (also recognized as a foreign media agent). The Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow dismissed the complaints in January. The decision on the claim of Mr. Verzilov has already entered into force, but in August he challenged it in cassation.

Mr. Smirnov was included in the register of foreign media agents in September 2021. At the same time, Mediazona entered the register for citation other foreign agents and receiving money from Google advertising. In 2022, Sergei Smirnov refused to label his posts as a foreign agent. July 28 Butyrsky District Court fined him for failure to fulfill the duties of a foreign agent (part 1 of section 19.34.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

Lusine Balasyan