Russia’s “Foreign Agents” Legislation: The Case of “International Memorial”

Abstract

The thesis will analyze the "foreign agents" legislation adopted in the Russian Federation. The analysis will be carried out at the intersection of political and legal realms. The thesis will aim to posit the laws within the theoretical framework of "authoritarian legality" and the "dual state" system introduced by Schmitt and Fraenkel, simultaneously exploring the law's instrumental role in contemporary Russia. The thesis's legal part will explore existing regulations and the legal repercussions of the "foreign agent" designation. It will also be aimed at comparing the "foreign agents" legislation's provisions with its United States counterpart and the newly adopted domestic legislation of 2022. The thesis's empirical part will focus on the covert consequences of the "foreign agent" designation and the "survival strategies" adopted by designated persons to maintain their functioning. Specific attention will be paid to the "International Memorial" case as an overtly politicized example of the legislation's usage.