Only 4% of “foreign agents” in 2025 received this status because of foreign funding...

Only 4% of “foreign agents” in 2025 received this status because of foreign funding. How is that possible?

Before the start of the full-scale war, foreign funding was the mandatory (and only) condition for being entered into the Justice Ministry’s registry. But later the situation changed — in 2022, the Justice Ministry received the right to declare as “foreign agents” those who are under “foreign influence” (whatever that may mean).

As a result, in 2025, 96% of “foreign agents” received the status because they were allegedly under “foreign influence.” This was reported by Deputy Justice Minister Oleg Sviridenko, who noted that the number of people and organizations declared “foreign agents” because of foreign funding has been decreasing every year.

“If this single criterion [foreign funding] had remained in place now, then it would be only 4% of foreign agents. Can you imagine that? Where would all the others be roaming? And we would be looking with Rosfinmonitoring for this money that doesn’t exist. And money is not needed there anyway — there are already other forms,” the deputy justice minister said.

🔗 We explained in detail in this guide exactly how the “foreign agents” legislation works and what you need to know if you or people you know ended up in the Justice Ministry’s registry.

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