Mikhail Kasyanov: Russia designates as 'foreign agent' the former prime minister and opponent of Putin

 Mikhail Kasyanov: Russia designates as 'foreign agent' the former prime minister and opponent of Putin

The former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov has been added on the list of "foreign agents" by the Russian Justice Ministry. This designation is often used to suppress anti-Kremlin demonstrations.

President Vladimir Putin's vociferous opponent, Mr. Kasyanov, departed Russia soon after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Despite having opposed Russia's conflict in Ukraine, he served as prime minister from 2000 to 2004, the year of Mr. Putin's first term as president.

An specialist in liberal finance, he is now living abroad.

The "foreign agent" list includes a number of civil society organizations and opponents of the Kremlin. The term was once used to describe espionage.

Those on the list are required to provide authorities thorough updates on their funding sources and to explain their position as "foreign agents" in all of their publications, including social media posts. He is not allowed to participate much in Russian politics.

The Ministry of Justice said that Mr Kasyanov "opposed the special military operation in Ukraine" as well as being "a member of the Russian Anti-War Committee, a relationship whose activities are aimed at discrediting Russian foreign as well as domestic policy" .

The term "foreign agent" was first used to describe non-governmental groups that received foreign money, but it has now been broadened to encompass "foreign agents" that include persons and media, whether they are Russian or not. seen as being "under the influence".

The dissolution of Mr. Kasyanov's Party of People's Freedom (Parnas) was decreed by the Supreme Court of Russia in May. One prominent opponent of Putin who was shot dead in 2015 close to the Kremlin was Boris Nemtsov, who was a member of the tiny liberal opposition.