In the war of narratives, Russia’s controversial “foreign agent” law has had a chilling effect on civil society groups and media organizations. Originally passed in 2012 and expanded in 2020, the legislation hands authorities the power to label overseas-backed NGOs and individuals engaged in political activity as "foreign agents," leaving them vulnerable to jail terms of up to five years, should they fail to report their activities precisely in line with its requirements.

The U.S.-funded news outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is just one recent example of how the law targets foreign-funded media. BBC Russia has reported that, in April, RFE/RL offered some of its staff the opportunity to leave the country, as it faces crippling fines. Russia has, so far, imposed penalties of nearly $1 million on the organization. The legislation could also lead to website closures and prison time for RFE/RL’s employees.'

Under the expanded legislation, individuals, not just organizations, can now be forced to register as foreign agents. Darya Apakhonchich, a Russian-language teacher from St. Petersburg, was one of the first individuals affected. Watch her story:

Darya's story is being repeated across the world as authoritarian leaders and anti-democratic regimes have adopted some of the same tactics.