On Friday, the Russian Ministry of Justice classified Boris Akunin, one of the country's most famous fiction writers, as a "foreign agent" due to his opposition to the war Moscow is waging in Ukraine. Boris Akunin is the pen name of Grigory Chkhartishvili, who was born in Georgia. The Ministry of Justice pointed to Chkhartishvili's opposition to what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine and accused him of spreading misleading and negative information about Russia, as well as assisting in fundraising for the Ukrainian army.
Akunin's historical detective stories were among the best-selling works in Russia before authorities turned against him due to what they deemed unacceptable anti-Russian views. The 67-year-old writer currently lives in Britain. The designation of "foreign agent" carries a negative connotation dating back to the Soviet era, requiring individuals to identify themselves as foreign agents on social media and other publications, subjecting them to burdensome financial reporting requirements. Writers and other cultural figures who have angered the authorities by publicly speaking out against the Ukrainian war have been placed under this classification.
