“OVD-Info”*: law on foreign agents leads to a large-scale discrimination in Russia

Despite the assurances voiced by the authorities, the application of the law on foreign agents led to a violation of constitutional rights and discrimination against NCOs and media, authors of the report released by the “OVD-Info” conclude.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 8, the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office filed to court a lawsuit on the liquidation of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”**, considering that the organization justified extremism and terrorism and also avoided the marking of a foreign agent. The liquidation of the HRC “Memorial”* and the “International Memorial”* would seriously harm the protection of human rights in Northern Caucasus, human rights defenders noted.

According to the report released by the “OVD-Info”, there is a consensus in society: the law on foreign agents is openly harmful to both society and the state, and it needs to be cancelled or substantially amended. The report by the “OVD-Info” was prepared by Daniil Beilinson, Karina Merkurieva, Grigory Okhotin, Natalia Smirnova, and Tatiana Uskova. They refer to the results of a polling posted on the website of the “Levada Center” on August 2, according to which 40% of the respondents believe that the law on foreign agents is “primarily a way of putting pressure on independent public organizations by the authorities.”

The purpose of the report is to analyze the discriminatory aspects of the law on foreign agents. The authors of the document explain that the compliance with reporting requirements violates the law on personal data and the requirement of mandatory marking as a foreign agent restricts freedom of expression.

People and organizations included in the lists of “foreign agents” are subject to a number of restrictions, including electoral, financial, in terms of control over the actions of the authorities.

Despite the assurances of the authorities, the status of “foreign agent” prevents receipt of state funding.

There is also indirect discrimination arising as a consequence of the law on foreign agents. Not all human rights defenders, journalists, and NCOs are ready to work with such a marking of foreign agent, since it affects their reputation.

* The edition has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice on the register of NCOs-foreign agents.

** The organization has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice on the register of NCOs performing the functions of foreign agents.