TALLINN, Estonia (AP) – As part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ever-increasing clampdown on dissent, authorities in recent years have adopted a slew of laws restricting fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the rights of minorities and religious groups.
These laws have taken aim at “foreign agents” allegedly seeking to exert influence on Russia, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and organizations spreading information critical of the Kremlin or contrary to official narratives, especially regarding Russia´s invasion of Ukraine.
They have helped the Kremlin to maintain tight control over the country´s political system, and as a result, Putin is expected to extend his rule virtually unchallenged in a presidential election this month.
Human rights advocates worry that more repressions are ahead.
Here´s a look at some of the restrictive laws passed in Russia:
July 2012 – Russian authorities adopted a law that allows them to label nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations as “foreign agents,” if they receive foreign funding and engage in loosely defined “political activity.” The designation required the organizations to submit detailed reports on their finances to authorities and carried strong negative connotations, which often scared away their sponsors, partners and advertisers.
