Legal Assistance Service for “Foreign Agents” Launched
OVD-Info and the Center for the Protection of Media Rights have launched a new project called “Inoteka.” Since December of last year, they have been providing support to individuals and organizations that have been added to the “foreign agents” registries.
According to OVD-Info, the practice of persecuting independent projects over the past ten years has caused irreparable harm to society, individuals, and the interests of the state. The legislation on “foreign agents” has become one of the tools for censorship and politically motivated persecution.
As part of the “Inoteka” project, together with experts from the Center for the Protection of Media Rights, the team will continue to study the application of “foreign agent” laws, report on their impact on civil society and individuals, initiate discussions with experts, and propose concrete steps to repeal discriminatory legislation.
Types of Assistance Provided
The project offers the following support to those affected by “foreign agent” laws:
- Legal consultations
- Representation in court
- Assistance in preparing complaints and appeals
- Preparation and submission of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
“Currently, the majority of those listed as foreign agents are independent media outlets and organizations defending human rights,” OVD-Info notes. “But the list is not limited to them—environmentalists, animal rights activists, educational projects, organizations helping people with drug dependencies, and many others are also included. Recently, not only organizations but also individuals—primarily journalists and activists—can be designated as foreign agents.”
If you have been added to the registry and need legal assistance, you can submit an application on the website: https://inoteka.io.