Russia’s Justice Ministry labels pro-war blogger Roman Alekhin a “foreign agent” amid money laundering probe
Russia’s Justice Ministry has updated its registry of so-called “foreign agents,” adding several new individuals and organizations — including a pro-war blogger currently under investigation for financial misconduct.
One of the most prominent additions is Roman Alekhin, a blogger known for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Alekhin is under investigation for allegedly laundering money intended for Russian troops. Authorities also accused him of spreading false information designed to discredit the Russian military.
Alekhin denied the charges in a statement to Russian outlet RBC, saying he was unaware of his designation until learning about it through the media. Calling the move “illegal” and “unfair,” he insisted he had never received foreign funding.
“There have been absolutely no financial payments, cash or otherwise, from foreigners to me. Never. I would never take them,” he said, adding that he would comply with the law by labeling his publications, however “absurd” the rules may be.
His case gained public attention earlier this month after Izvestia, a pro-government newspaper, released a video allegedly showing Alekhin discussing a kickback scheme involving a 200 million ruble ($2.4 million) military procurement deal. The footage suggests a 50 million ruble ($599,000) commission would be siphoned off — claims Alekhin called a “provocation.”
He told RBC that individuals approached him with a proposal to fund military-related medical supplies, allegedly suggesting that up to 10% of the deliveries could be skimmed with unit commanders’ approval. He acknowledged being questioned by police but said he was later released without charges.
Alekhin is the second prominent pro-government figure recently added to the “foreign agents” list. On August 22, political analyst and media figure Sergei Markov was similarly designated.
Others newly listed include:
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Ivan Vostrikov, environmental activist and founder of the anti-war project Bogaty Region, as well as a former coordinator for Alexei Navalny’s political network in Tyumen;
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Elena Rykovtseva, journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty;
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Sergey Erlikh, historian, publisher, and publicist with Russian and Moldovan citizenship;
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The Avtozak-LIVE media project, which focuses on human rights issues and recently announced plans to shut down due to lack of funding.
Vostrikov, Rykovtseva, and Erlikh currently reside outside Russia.
Background on the “Foreign Agents” Law
Russia’s “foreign agents” law was introduced in 2012 to target NGOs receiving foreign funding while engaging in so-called “political activity.” Over the years, the legislation has been repeatedly broadened. A major update took effect on December 1, 2022, allowing the government to label virtually any individual or group as being under “foreign influence.”
Those designated must disclose all sources of funding and mark all public content with a “foreign agent” label. Noncompliance can result in large fines or prison sentences.
Critics, including Human Rights Watch, say the law serves to silence dissent and suppress civil society. Many groups have closed voluntarily rather than deal with the burdensome legal requirements and reputational damage.
The registry now includes a wide range of civil society actors, from Nobel Peace Prize-winning NGO Memorial, to major independent media outlets like Meduza, TV Rain, The Moscow Times, and The Insider. Individual journalists, activists, and academics have also been targeted, with some — such as The Insider editor Roman Dobrokhotov — listed by name.
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