Russia labels Pussy Riot member, others as 'foreign agents'

MOSCOW – Russian authorities connected Thursday designated a subordinate of the Pussy Riot punk group, a satirist and an creation collector arsenic “foreign agents,” portion of efforts to stifle dissent.

The Justice Ministry applied the statement to Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, a Pussy Riot subordinate who became wide known for taking portion successful a 2012 protestation wrong Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral aft which she spent astir 2 years successful prison.

Journalist and satirist Viktor Shenderovich and creation collector Marat Gelman were besides handed the statement on with respective different people.

The “foreign agent” statement implies further authorities scrutiny and carries beardown pejorative connotations that tin discredit recipients. Russian authorities person applied the designation to scores of media outlets, civilian nine groups and individuals, ratcheting up unit connected those who are captious of the Kremlin.

Those designated arsenic “foreign agents” are required to adhd a lengthy connection to quality reports, societal media posts and different materials specifying that the contented was created by a “foreign agent.”

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Earlier this week, Russia’s tribunal connected Tuesday unopen the country’s oldest and astir salient quality rights group, Memorial, citing its nonaccomplishment to place itself arsenic a “foreign agent.”

Tolokonnikova tweeted that she wouldn't abide by the request to people her posts with the “foreign agent” designation. She said she would situation the authorities' determination successful court, concluding: “Russia volition beryllium free.”

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