State Duma approves law to punish ‘foreign agents’ for offenses committed outside Russia

The Russian State Duma has passed a law in its third and final reading that will allow authorities to penalize “foreign agents” for misdemeanor offenses they allegedly committed outside of Russia.

The amendments will allow the authorities to prosecute individuals designated as “foreign agents” in Russia in absentia, including for violations of the rules governing “foreign agent” activity.

“About 40 percent of foreign agents have moved abroad. We’ve made it possible to hold them accountable even while they’re outside of Russia,” Vasily Piskaryov, head of the State Duma’s commission for investigating foreign interference and the bill’s sponsor, told state media.

The amendments also increase penalties for improperly labeling materials associated with “foreign agents,” in cases where the government-mandated format is not followed. Individuals will face fines ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles ($380–$640), officials from 100,000 to 300,000 rubles ($1,270–$3,800), and legal entities from 300,000 to 500,000 rubles ($3,800–$6,360).

“Some foreign agents distort the labeling by adding anti-Russian slogans, altering the official format, or even using it to advertise like-minded platforms,” Piskaryov said. “They use this kind of pseudo-labeling to stir up political and social tension.”

He added that the current penalties — a warning or a fine of 500 to 1,000 rubles ($6–$12) for individuals and 2,000 to 4,000 rubles ($25–$50) for officials — are not a sufficient “deterrent.”

According to Piskaryov, the new fines could be withdrawn directly from the special accounts that foreign agents have been required to open for royalties and other income.