Russia: Duma proposes to increase penalties for ‘foreign agents’
The Russian State Duma proposes to increase penalties for foreign agents
01.07.2025
Article published on the ASI website
Proposals under a new bill would introduce criminal liability for foreign agents under the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code.
On 1 July, the State Duma introduced a bill to amend Article 330.1 of the Federation’s Criminal Code (evading duties defined under Russian foreign agents’ legislation).
At present, criminal liability for those classed as foreign agents is initiated after three violations of the legislation – the bill’s authors want this threshold reduced to two.
“We are proposing the removal of the onerous system of double prejudice where a foreign agent is able to break the law three times before he/she is held criminally responsible – and in two of these cases, they must be administratively accountable within a year. Only after a third offence has been committed can the Criminal Code be applied”.
“Once our amendment has been approved, a single administrative prosecution will be sufficient for a repeat offence to trigger criminal liability”, said Vasily Piskarev, Chair of the State Duma’s Security and Anti-Corruption Committee on his Telegram channel.
According to the bill’s Explanatory Note, the Ministry of Justice says that more than 40% of foreign agents do not fulfil their obligations, or comply with the legislation’s requirements. A total of 441 official reports of administrative offences were filed against foreign agents between 2023 and 2025.
