Amendments to the law on “foreign agents”, which will be used for repression, will enter into force in the Russian Federation on December 1.

The Kremlin has intensified repression against “dissidents”, and from December 1, amendments to the law on “foreign agents” directed against critics and opponents of Vladimir Putin’s dictatorial regime will enter into force in the Russian Federation.

According to British intelligence on Twitter, Putin approved the relevant amendments in July 2022. The law itself was adopted back in 2012. It was actively used for repression against opponents of the regime.

It was this law that defined the concept of “foreign agents” – these are natural persons or organizations that received financial support from abroad. Now this concept will be extended to those who are simply under the vague influence or pressure of foreign players. The Ministry of Justice will be able to publish the personal data and addresses of “foreign agents”, which will surely expose them to the risk of persecution.

“The new laws will further expand the repressive powers of the Russian state. This trend has been ongoing since Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, but accelerated sharply after the invasion of Ukraine,” British intelligence said.

Intelligence officials predict that the Kremlin is preemptive to prevent domestic dissent from escalating, as the “special operation” remains an unresolved issue and increasingly affects the daily lives of Russians.

Repressions in the Russian Federation: what is known

At the end of September, Putin’s regime intensified repression by announcing partial mobilization. Separately, police measures have been strengthened.

Police checkpoints have been set up on the roads in some regions, searches are ongoing in the homes of local residents, and searches are also being conducted for people who communicate with Ukrainians.

In addition, Russia actively represses Ukrainians in the captured territories. The biggest wave of repression was before the so-called “referendums”.