Russia’s Justice Ministry has designated lawyer and Circassian activist Rustam Khuazhev as a “foreign agent”. The ministry also added Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of murdered opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, as well as the information resources Team Navalny and Reanimation to the same register.
The ministry accused Khuazhev of “disseminating false information about decisions taken by public authorities of the Russian Federation and the policies pursued by them”, making statements “against the special military operation”, and taking part in the creation of materials produced by other “foreign agents” and a “undesirable organisation”. The ministry also claimed that Khuazhev “conducts activities outside the Russian Federation”.
Khuazhev is a lawyer and civil society activist and one of the representatives of the Circassian national movement. He is a member of the presidium of the League of Free Nations, an organisation bringing together representatives of national movements in Russia. The League describes Khuazhev as a representative of the Circassian national liberation movement. He is also associated with the World Circassian Agency.
Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead in central Moscow in February 2015, was also added to the foreign-agent register updated this week. She founded a foundation named after her father and lives outside Russia.
The Justice Ministry cited similar grounds in Nemtsova’s case. It said she had disseminated “false information” about decisions and policies of the Russian authorities, spoken “against the special military operation”, published materials produced by other “foreign agents” and interacted with them. The ministry also said she had participated in the activities of an organisation designated “undesirable” by the Russian authorities. This appears to refer to the Boris Nemtsov Foundation.
Team Navalny and the Reanimation resource were also added to the register.
The Justice Ministry accused Team Navalny of disseminating “false information” about the Russian authorities and the electoral system, making statements “against the special military operation” and publishing materials produced by “foreign agents”. The ministry separately said that the resource is operated from abroad by an organisation that has been included by the Russian authorities on their list of terrorist organisations.
Regarding Reanimation, the Justice Ministry cited the dissemination of “false information” about the Russian authorities and the electoral system, as well as materials produced by “foreign agents” and organisations designated “undesirable” in Russia.
