Russian authorities on Friday classified Nobel Prize-winning journalist Dmitry Muratov as a "foreign agent," a move often targeting critics of the Kremlin's policies. Russian news agencies reported that the Justice Ministry stated Muratov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2021, was among several Russian citizens added to the list. Individuals labeled as foreign agents face police inspections and other punitive measures. While Muratov remains in Russia, many on the list have left the country since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Justice Ministry claimed Muratov "created and published materials (produced by) foreign agents and used them to spread negative views about Russia’s domestic and foreign policies on international platforms." Under Russian law, individuals and organizations that receive funding from abroad can be considered foreign agents, which may undermine their credibility with the Russian public. Those deemed foreign agents must label their published works with a disclaimer indicating their status.
Novaya Gazeta and Muratov gained a reputation abroad for investigative reports that often criticized the Kremlin. Muratov later offered his Nobel medal for auction, stating that the proceeds of $103.5 million would be used to help refugee children from Ukraine. Novaya Gazeta ceased publication in 2022 in response to legislation imposing harsh penalties for discrediting the Russian military operation in Ukraine and Russian soldiers. Many of its journalists have regrouped in a new publication in Latvia.
Among other Russian citizens added to the foreign agents list on Friday were another journalist who wrote pro-Ukrainian articles, an anti-war comedian, and a historian from Chechnya.
