- Let it rip!
Designates Identified Environmental Activists as Agents in Moscow - Moscow designates recognized environmental activists as agents
Vladimir Slivyak, a distinguished Russian environmental activist, has been branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian Justice Ministry. Slivyak, well-known for his anti-nuclear waste campaign, voiced his concern stating, "This yet another example of the Russian government's fear towards civil society." The labels were handed out on Friday, with Slivyak's criticisms of Russia's conflict in Ukraine as the rationale.
Slivyak, winner of the Right Livelihood Award, also known as an alternative Nobel Prize in the environmental field, found himself on the blacklist in 2014, when his organization "Ecodefense" was first slapped with the label. He left Russia shortly after the war commenced.
The Registry of "Foreign Agents" is no stranger to Russia, coming into existence in 2012. The Ministry's roster now boasts almost a thousand names, considered a silencing tactic against dissent, rather than a tool for transparency. Initially targeting foreign-funded organizations, the laws now label individuals based on vague "foreign influence" instead of actual funding. This label causes restrictions such as prohibitions on public service work or earning an income from Russian advertising.
- Russia, Environmental Activism, Repression, Moscow, Justice Ministry, Labeling, Ukraine
The Long Arm of Russia's "Foreign Agent" Legislation
Originating in 2012, Russia's legislation on "foreign agents" aimed at monitoring foreign-funded NGOs. Over the years, it has transformed into a comprehensive strategy to suppress dissent, with environmental activists finding themselves at the receiving end. In 2020, stifling dissent further, the Ministry broadened its scope to include individuals in its blacklist. The label is now applied based on undefined "foreign influence" instead of actual funding, and it comes with mandatory disclosure requirements and public shaming.
The Chilling Effect on Environmental Activists
- Politicization of Environmentalism: Protests against ecological damage have started to be perceived as political threats, giving rise to Kremlin countermeasures like a $10 million government-backed environmental foundation to co-opt activism[1].
- Targeted Repression: Activists labeled as "foreign agents" end up in operational limbo due to burdensome bureaucracy (detailed financial reporting) and social isolation caused by state-influenced "foreign interference" narratives[4][5].
- The Ukraine War Context: The 2022 expansion of the law, allowing designations for any "foreign support," coincides with intensified scrutiny of civil society during wartime. Environmental groups, especially those opposing state-backed extractive projects critical for funding the Ukraine invasion, are likely to face heightened targeting[1][3].
The Repercussions for Designated Individuals
The Justice Ministry implements these laws through registries and content restrictions, while new legislation, effective September 2025, will bar designated individuals from educational roles, further isolating activists[3][5]. This system sets environmental advocacy with national security threats, particularly when activism clashes with war-related industries[1][4].
- Urgewald, investigative environmental organization, has expressed concern over the rate at which environmental activists in EC countries are being labeled as "foreign agents" by their respective governments.
- The labeling of these activists, like Vladimir Slivyak in Russia, is often based on vague claims of foreign influence rather than actual funding, leading to restrictions on public service work and earning an income from advertising.
- This politicization of environmental activism is seen as a silencing tactic against dissent, rather than a tool for transparency, and has been criticized by organizations like Urgewald as potentially chilling the activism necessary to address pressing environmental concerns.
- In light of this, it is crucial for governments to reconsider their employment policy toward environmental activism in order to protect and promote the open exchange of ideas and the work of activists dedicated to safeguarding our planet.
