Russia has now put a lawyer and a journalist on its wanted list for the crime of—brace yourself—telling the truth and defending people the Kremlin doesn’t like, a move that says more about Moscow’s fear of open debate than any threat these citizens pose.
At a Glance
- Russian authorities placed lawyer Nikolai Polozov and journalist Alla Konstantinova on a wanted list, continuing a crackdown on dissent.
- Both have been labeled “foreign agents,” fined, and forced into exile for defending dissidents and reporting on government abuses.
- Russia’s “foreign agent” laws serve as tools to silence critics, targeting lawyers, journalists, and activists who refuse to toe the Kremlin line.
- This escalation sends a chilling message to anyone who values freedom of speech or dares to challenge government abuses.
Moscow’s Wanted List: The New Badge of Honor for Dissenters
When the Kremlin calls someone a “foreign agent,” you can bet your last dollar that person has gotten under the regime’s skin. This week, Moscow added a fresh pair of names to its infamous wanted list: Nikolai Polozov, a defense attorney who’s made a career standing up for political prisoners, and Alla Konstantinova, a journalist who’s exposed the rot in Russia’s prison system. Their real crime? Refusing to be cowed by a government that equates criticism with treason.
Polozov, known for defending members of Pussy Riot and Ukrainian dissidents, and Konstantinova, a reporter for the independent outlet Mediazona, are now officially enemies of the state. Both have already been forced to flee their homeland, a pattern that’s become all too common in Russia as the government tightens the screws on anyone who dares to speak their mind. The message from Moscow is crystal clear: challenge us, and you’ll be hunted down—even if you’re halfway around the globe.
Weaponizing the Law: “Foreign Agents” and the War on Dissent
Russia’s so-called “foreign agent” law is a masterpiece of authoritarian mischief. Passed in 2012 and expanded over the years, it lets the government slap a scarlet letter on anyone receiving foreign funding or simply expressing views that don’t align with state propaganda. Once you’re labeled, you face impossible reporting requirements, endless fines, and public smears designed to destroy your reputation—and if you slip up, there’s a criminal case waiting with your name on it.
Polozov knows this routine all too well. After representing high-profile political prisoners, he was fined for “discrediting” the Russian military and for not labeling his social media as the work of a “foreign agent.” His real offense? Calling out Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine and defending those on the receiving end of the Kremlin’s wrath. Konstantinova’s story is just as telling: her reporting on prison abuses and COVID policies made her a target, and she too was branded a foreign agent, fined, and ultimately forced into exile. This is what passes for justice in Putin’s Russia—punishing citizens for doing what any free country would celebrate: defending the rule of law and exposing government abuses.
Exile, Fear, and the Chilling Effect on Russian Civil Society
The consequences of these moves go far beyond Polozov and Konstantinova. Their forced exile is part of a broader trend: lawyers, journalists, and activists are fleeing Russia in droves, knowing that staying means risking arrest—or worse. This climate of fear isn’t just about individual fates; it’s about sending a message to anyone left inside the country who might be thinking about speaking up. The result is a shrinking space for dissent, a media landscape gutted of independent voices, and a legal system that’s become an arm of the state, not a check on its power.
For the exiles themselves, the fight continues abroad. Polozov co-founded “Search.Captive,” a project dedicated to finding Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians—a cause that would be lauded anywhere else, but in Russia gets you hunted. Mediazona soldiers on as one of the few outlets still shining a light on government wrongdoing, even as its reporters face escalating threats. Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s heavy-handed tactics only serve to further isolate Russia from the international community and deepen the resolve of those committed to documenting its abuses.
Sources:
JURIST – Russia places lawyer Nikolai Polozov and journalist Alla Konstantinova on wanted list
