we don’t row anyone – Kommersant

During the WEF plenary session, President Vladimir Putin spoke about lists of foreign agents in Russia. The moderator asked him if he got the impression that “everyone is being added to the register,” since the register is replenished almost every Friday, and the number of people and organizations in it has exceeded 400. The President replied that the Russian authorities “are not adding anyone,” and the current The law on foreign agents is a copy of the American law, only “more liberal.”

“We don’t row anyone at all, who do we row? This law has been in force since 1937 or 1938 in the USA, it is generally a copy, only it is much more liberal… The law of the United States provides for criminal prosecution and prison for certain actions. What is a foreign agent in Russia? This is a person who is engaged in public activities with the money of a foreign state,” the president said.

Mr. Putin admitted that “there are many nuances” under the law on foreign agents, which human rights activists have drawn attention to. “There are many nuances related to the fact that this law covers people who are not really involved in public activities; they are involved in the environment and something else. Yes, and we are making adjustments,” the president assured.

He also claims that he always asks law enforcement and investigative agencies, as well as the prosecutor’s office, to “make some suggestions on how this procedure can be improved.”

State Duma Commission offered prohibit property support for foreign agents, as well as punish those who help them circumvent the prohibitions provided for by law. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev believesthat it is necessary to prohibit foreign agents from receiving income in Russia.

State Duma Deputy Evgeny Fedorov offered The Ministry of Finance should introduce a tax of 5% of profits for foreign agents.

There are currently 680 individuals and organizations in the register of foreign agents. The last time he replenished on Friday, September 8th. Then the Ministry of Justice added six citizens to it, including the leader of the rock group “Pornofilmy” Vladimir Kotlyarov.

Laura Keffer