Actor Artur Smolyaninov and others declared ‘foreign agents’

The Russian Ministry of Justice has expanded its list of “foreign agents.”

The updated list includes actor Artur Smolyaninov; music critic Artemy Troitsky; former head of Navalny’s headquarters in Perm, Sergey Ukhov; blogger and former priest Sergey Kirsanov; lawyer Anatoly Fursov; and Ukrainian television host Alexander Shelest.

In a January 6 interview with Novaya Gazeta Europe, Artur Smolyaninov said that if he were forced to go to war, he’d fight for Ukraine, and he doesn’t care “what remains of Russia.” The comment evoked harsh criticism from Russian politicians and officials. Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigate Committee, demanded a criminal case be opened against Smolyaninov.