**Russia’s State Duma Approves Bills to Tighten Control Over Dissent**
The Russian State Duma has approved a package of three bills that aim to tighten control over dissent and expand state repression. The bills were passed in the first reading on April 2, according to Meduza, an independent news outlet.
**Broadening the Definition of “Foreign Agents”**
One of the proposed laws broadens the definition of “foreign agents,” a designation used by the Kremlin to target independent media, NGOs, and critics. Under the new provisions, anyone assisting foreign organizations that act against Russia’s interests or gather military-technical information could be classified as a foreign agent.
**Trials in Absentia for Anti-War Offenses**
The second bill allows trials in absentia for citizens who have left Russia, covering 20 categories of crimes. These include spreading “fakes” about the Russian army, discrediting the military, calls for extremism, and violating Russia’s territorial integrity.
**Harsher Penalties for Anti-War Offenses**
The third bill introduces stricter penalties for anti-war offenses. Those accused of providing self-serving assistance to international organizations that Russia does not participate in could face up to seven years in prison. The legislation also increases sentences for discrediting the Russian army and calling for sanctions against Russia, with penalties of up to five years in prison if committed for profit.
**A Crackdown on Dissent**
If passed in subsequent readings, the laws would further entrench the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent and solidify legal mechanisms to prosecute Russians abroad. Since the start of its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has used censorship laws to prosecute dissent, with thousands facing fines or prison sentences for criticizing the war or reporting non-state-approved information.
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