Toggle navigation menu.

BRIEFING – The Proliferation of Russian-Style Foreign Agents Laws

Thursday, June 20, 2024
2:00 p.m.
Cannon House Office Building Room 210

WASHINGTON—In 2012, Russia adopted a foreign agents law which has been used repeatedly to crack down on independent civil society and opposition, closing organizations and jailing dissenters. Over the past several years, there has been a proliferation of Russian-style foreign agents laws in other countries which, while justified as providing transparency for foreign funding and influence, in reality are used to control and restrict civil society. They are implemented in a climate of increasing repression of civil society, including NGOs, human rights activists, independent media, and election observers. They often target U.S. and European supported civil society.

Authoritarian regimes use the designation of foreign agent to stigmatize and discredit organizations and individuals and to give the government the right to involve itself not only in an organization’s finances, but sometimes also in its activities. These laws usually involve onerous reporting requirements and noncompliance can result in steep fines, closure of an organization, or jail. Governments falsely claim that their laws are similar to transparency or lobbying laws in the United States and other democratic countries, which have been put in place to make hidden foreign influence more transparent and address propaganda and malign foreign influence.

This briefing will discuss how and why so many countries are adopting this authoritarian tool to repress civil society, with particular focus on Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Slovakia and Hungary.

Panelists will include:

  • Jasmine D. Cameron, Esq., Senior Legal Advisor for Europe and Eurasia, Center for Human Rights, American Bar Association
  • Dr. Lincoln Mitchell, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
  • Martina Hrvolova, Chair of Friends of Slovakia

###

Media contact

Category
Country
Issue
Date
Filter Topics Open Close
In the News

Bipartisan House members push Biden to allow Poland ...

Oct 30, 2024

In the News

US Weighs NATO Ally’s Offer To Shoot Down Russ...

Nov 01, 2024

screen-reader-text
In the News

Bipartisan report urges rethink of America’s Russia ...

Sep 28, 2024

screen-reader-text
In the News

Wilson Talks Russia Strategy

Oct 02, 2024

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wilson Issues Statement on Government Raids...

Oct 25, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, US Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson (SC-02), issued the following statement regarding the government raids on the homes of the two Tbilisi, Georgia-based researchers with the US-based Atlantic Council: “It […]

screen-reader-text
Articles

Kampelman Quarterly, Edition I

Sep 30, 2025

Table of Contents A note from the editor……………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Investing in Ukraine’s Defense: Why Europe is Adopting the Danish Model to Aid Ukraine…………..2 Connor Lewis, Kampelman Fellow, Summer 2025 Normalizing Oppression: […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Ranking Member Representative Cohen Condemns Lukashe...

Sep 22, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today issued a statement following Alexander Lukashenka’s imprisonment of two journalists: “Lukashenka is trying […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Senator Wicker and Senator Shaheen Introduce Biparti...

Sep 19, 2025

Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Commissioner Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced the Eastern Flank Strategic Partnership Act of 2025. The legislation establishes it as U.S. […]

screen-reader-text
Briefings

Conspiracy Theories, Antisemitism, and Democratic De...

Sep 18, 2025

  Antisemitism is indicative of underlying decay in societies where it prospers. Unique from other forms of racial or religious bigotry, antisemitism is often the terminal phase of conspiratorial thinking […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

BRIEFING—Conspiracy Theories, Antisemitism, and Demo...

Sep 17, 2025

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2358-C Stream live Antisemitism is indicative of underlying decay in societies where it prospers. Unique from other forms of racial or religious bigotry, antisemitism is […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Bipartisan Helsinki Commission Leadership Ask Admini...

Sep 11, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) this week sent a […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

HEARING—From Partner to Problem: Georgia’s Anti-Amer...

Sep 10, 2025

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2358-C Stream live here   Georgia was once a core U.S. partner and a beacon of freedom in the Caucasus. Today, the ruling Georgian Dream […]

screen-reader-text
Hearings

From Partner to Problem: Georgia’s Anti-American Turn

Sep 10, 2025

https://youtube.com/live/-TlMiyHZS4I?feature=share Georgia was once a core U.S. partner and a beacon of freedom in the Caucasus. Today, the ruling Georgian Dream party is dragging the country back into Russia’s orbit […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

BRIEFING—The Impact on Central Asia of Russia’s War ...

Sep 04, 2025

Rayburn House Office Building 2200 Stream live here  Russia’s war on Ukraine has had a significant impact on the countries of Central Asia, including shifting their relationships with Russia and […]

screen-reader-text
Briefings

The Impact on Central Asia of Russia’s War on Ukrain...

Sep 04, 2025

Russia’s war on Ukraine has had a significant impact on the countries of Central Asia, including shifting their relationships with Russia and China and reshaping their internal political and economic […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Ranking Member Representative Cohen Marks 5th Annive...

Aug 07, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today issued a statement marking the fifth anniversary of Alexander Lukashenka’s falsification of elections […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Bipartisan Helsinki Commission Leadership Mark 50th ...

Aug 01, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued a statement marking […]

screen-reader-text