Russian authorities classified the country’s former head of government, Mikhail Kasyanov, as a “foreign agent”. “Kasyanov participated in the creation and unlimited dissemination of reports and materials from foreign agents and disseminated false information about the decisions of Russian public authorities and their policies,” the Russian Justice Ministry said in a statement.
He is also accused of involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The now 65-year-old was head of government in Russia during President Vladimir Putin’s first term, from 2000 to 2004. He then fell out with the Kremlin leader and joined the opposition.
In 2008, authorities did not register him as a candidate for the presidential elections due to alleged false signatures from supporters. He was considered a confidant of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was murdered in 2015. Last year, Kasyanov left his home country as a declared opponent of the war, just months after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The Russian leadership uses the term “foreign agent” to label opposition members and critics. Anyone listed as a “foreign agent” in Russia should expect numerous disadvantages.