Russia's 'Foreign Agent' Law: A Blunt Instrument To Silence Dissent
- By Carlos Coelho and
- Mike Eckel
The original 2012 legislation, which targeted NGOs and rights groups, has since been expanded to target media organizations, individual journalists, YouTube vloggers, and, well, pretty much anyone who receives money from outside of Russia and, in the eyes of the Kremlin, voices a political opinion. Here's a look at where the law came from, how it has been expanded, and who's paying the price.