Russian Ministry of Justice Designates Boris Akunin and Kholod Publication as Foreign Agents: Updates and Implications

2024-01-12 18:11:00

The Russian Ministry of Justice has updated the register of “foreign agents” to include writer Boris Akunin and the publication Kholod.

Also included in the register are the author of the Moscow Calling telegram channel Andrey Kurshin, Novaya Gazeta journalist Alexander Minkin and former municipal deputy from Mari El Anton Sokolov. The Ministry of Justice report notes that all of them opposed the implementation of the “SVO”.

The department also stated that everyone except Minkin “disseminated false information aimed at creating a negative image of the Russian Federation and its Armed Forces.” At the same time, Minkin, according to the Ministry of Justice, disseminated “unreliable information” regarding the decisions taken by the Russian authorities and the policies they pursue.

In the context of Akunin, the Ministry of Justice stated that the writer also “took part in fundraising events in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

“They write that today I was declared a foreign agent. Is this me, a terrorist and extremist?! I feel like bin Laden who got a ticket for illegal parking,” commented Akunin decision of the Ministry of Justice.

Rosfinmonitoring added writer Boris Akunin to the list of “terrorists and extremists” on December 18. Soon following this, the Investigative Committee announced that a criminal case had been opened once morest the writer under articles on “fake news” regarding the army (207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and on public justification of terrorism (205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The department did not specify what caused the case.

Presumably, Akunin’s case may be related to statements that the writer made during a conversation with pro-Kremlin pranksters Vovan and Lexus. In a conversation with the writer, the pranksters introduced themselves as representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, and Akunin, speaking regarding the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strikes on Russian territories, said: “My heart bleeds, but I absolutely understand that… How might it be otherwise?”

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