Another former minister in Russia labeled a “foreign agent”

Russia’s Ministry of Justice has included former Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev in its registry of “foreign agents,” according to official sources.

The first foreign minister — now a foreign agent
Kozyrev was the first foreign minister in Russia’s post-Soviet history. He served from 1990 to 1996. He was also a member of the 1st and 2nd convocations of the State Duma.

What is he being accused of?
The Justice Ministry accuses Kozyrev of:

Criticizing the Russian government’s policies,
Spreading “fake” information about the Russian army,
Opposing the invasion of Ukraine,
Cooperating with foreign platforms.

Lives in the U.S., condemned the war in Ukraine
Since 2012, Kozyrev has resided in the United States. He has harshly criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and publicly opposed official policies.

What does being a “foreign agent” mean?
Under Russian law, those labeled as “foreign agents” must:

Regularly report their activities and expenses to the Ministry of Justice;
Clearly mark all their publications, including social media, as being from a “foreign agent.”

Since the end of 2022, the Ministry has maintained a unified registry. Nearly 1,000 individuals and organizations have been added so far.

What do you think — is the “foreign agent” label fair and transparent?

Andrey Kozyrev Russia Foreign Agent Ukraine Ministry of Justice