Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Labels Kasparov and Khodorkovsky ‘Foreign Agents’

Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Anastasia Khodorkovskaya

Russia on Friday added two high-profile Kremlin critics to its list of "foreign agents": former chess champion Garry Kasparov and ex-tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The infamous label, reminiscent of the "enemies of the people" of the Soviet period, is used extensively against opponents, journalists and human rights activists accused of conducting foreign-funded political activities.

Such "foreign agents" are subject to numerous constraints and laborious procedures, under pain of severe sanctions. In particular, they must indicate this status in all their publications.

In its updated website list, the Russian Justice Ministry said that Khodorkovsky, 58, and Kasparov, 59, have "sources" in Ukraine to finance their activities. 

Soviet-born former world chess champion Kasparov is a longtime opponent of President Vladimir Putin and has lived in the United States for almost a decade.

Khodorkovsky was one of Russia's most powerful businessmen in the 1990s, before coming into conflict with the Kremlin when Putin came to power in 2000. 

He spent 10 years, from 2003 to 2013, in prison and then went into exile.

For years, he helped to finance the Russian opposition organization Open Russia, which dissolved itself in May last year in the face of growing repression.

Since the start of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, dozens of members of the Russian intellectual elite and journalists have left the country, as the authorities step up pressure against the last critical voices and media. 

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more