Russian Federation - July 2024

Russia’s State Duma approved on 23 July legislation that would expand the criteria of “undesirable organization” to include any Russian entity that was founded by or in any way funded by a foreign government. The punishment for working for, providing funding to, or otherwise cooperating with an “undesirable organization” includes fines and criminal charges including four years in jail. The expansion would mean anyone with a history of participation with overseas cultural exchanges or study programs or foreign-funded media like BBC Russia could be held criminally liable. The move is part of a recent trend of progressively expanding the scope and liability of repressive legislation; in July the Duma also made vaguely-defined “drug propaganda” a felony, rather than a misdemeanour, offense. The bill will become law after passing through the upper chamber of parliament and being signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Sources: Meduza, Voice of America