Russia has put two members of punk band Pussy Riot on its list of alleged foreign agents. It is about the founder of the club Nadezhda Tolkonikova and Veronika Nikolshina. Tolkonikova has already announced that she will appeal the decision.
Six more people were put on the list on Thursday. Among them are journalist Taisiya Bekbulatova and satirist Viktor Shenderovich. “These people are systematically distributing materials to a large group of people while receiving money from abroad,” the government said in a statement.
Tolkonikova responded in English on Instagram by saying that “the government can grade her ass”. Shenderovich said on a radio program that the government’s decision aims to expel him from the country.
Persons and organizations identified as foreign agents in Russia must be able to prove the source of the funds, undergo regular investigations, and all of their public statements must be accompanied by a text that the content comes from a foreign agent. The term foreign agent was first used in 2012, and its use has expanded since then. Since last year, individuals have been added to the list. There are currently 111 people or organizations on the list.
Critics say the list is intended to make life difficult for critics of President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
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