The FSB has clarified the list
The FSB has developed a list of completely non-secret information, for the “purposeful” collection of which you can get into the register of foreign agents. It follows from the document: the disclosure of any information about the state of affairs in the army, the defense complex and Roscosmos is fraught with unpleasant consequences. Journalists working in these areas are not to be envied.
Photo: Alexey Merinov
This list was developed by the FSB in compliance with the law adopted at the very end of 2020 — the same one that, for the sake of “establishing additional measures to counter threats to national security,” ordered the creation of a register of individuals in Russia “performing the functions of foreign agents.” While this register (it is entrusted to the Ministry of Justice to keep it) is empty, but the rapid activity of the authorities in replenishing various “enemy” lists in the last six months suggests that it will not be for long.
So, one of the grounds for recognizing a Russian or a foreigner as a ” foreign agent “is called” purposeful collection of information in the field of military, military-technical activities of the Russian Federation”, which” when obtained by a foreign source “hypothetically”can be used against the security of the Russian Federation”. What is a “foreign source”? The wording is infinitely broad and vague: it can be either foreigners, a foreign state, an international or interstate organization, or a Russian organization orrussians acting in the interests of foreigners. If the information “in the field of military, military-technical activities of the Russian Federation” was collected under their “influence” – write it is gone. And the impact can manifest itself in the form of money (in any amount, even five kopecks), and in the form of”property or organizational and methodological assistance”. Should the money be given exactly for “purposeful collection of information” or can it just be a gift? Only from practice do we learn how our authorities understand the intricate wording of the law.
You can, of course, say: “What registers of foreign agents, for collecting information of a military nature that is dangerous for the security of the country, you should be put in jail!” But the fact is that they will be included in the register of foreign agents for collecting information that is not a state secret and cannot lead to criminal cases under articles 275 (“High treason”) and 276 (“Espionage”) of the Criminal Code! This is stipulated in the law.
There are 61 items in the draft list developed by the FSB. Information on the material, technical and financial support of the troops, on contracts for the purchase of this and that for the army and other law enforcement agencies, “on the assessment and forecasts of the development of the military-political, strategic (operational) situation”, on the work of the military-industrial complex are considered potentially dangerous. As well as information aboutpersonal data of military personnel and their family members, “on compliance with the rule of law and the moral and psychological climate” in the troops, the deployment of military units and their number. The organization of state protection of the heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and data on the progress of the preliminary investigation of criminal cases that are under the jurisdiction of the FSB and military investigators of the IC were also awarded special mention.
Almost half of the list is devoted to Roscosmos: there is also information about the technical condition and readiness of space launch vehicles, and about the development of space nuclear energy, and about the financing of the state corporation, and about its international cooperation programs.
Let us repeat once again: this is not the information about Roscosmos or the defense industry that is classified. Ilya Prokofiev, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Bar Association “Tsentryurservice”, at the request of “MK”, clarified: “Information that is directly classified by the relevant order and is classified as” secret “or”top secret” is considered to be a state secret. Employees working in special structures and divisions that have access to state secrets are warned aboutthe inadmissibility of its disclosure and are acquainted with the relevant orders, which also indicate which information is not subject to disclosure. Sometimes all the information that becomes known to an employee is secret.” But the draft order of the FSB in fact declares the collection of non-state secret “virtually any information that somehow concerns the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation” punishable, the lawyer believes.
Punishable by applying a brand.
Why is this necessary?
A retired major general of the Rosgvardiya troops, who wished to remain anonymous, suggested in a conversation with MK that “additional regulation” was required because “the issue of declassifying what not everyone is supposed to know is now quite acute, and not only in Russia.” From open sources on the Internet, you can learn a lot and about a lot, and”journalists, bloggers and investigators, having heard or learned something, rush to spread it to the whole world.” The interlocutor of MK drew attention to the fact that one can get into foreign agents only for “purposeful” collection of information: “it’s one thing you were driving a car and accidentally saw something, but it’s another thing-you were standing with a camera and waiting for a column of armored vehicles to pass.”
But what about journalists, whose job is to purposefully collect information? Or public organizations like “Soldiers ‘ Mothers”? It seems that it is possible to collect non-secret information, but it is now fraught to disclose it without the authorization of the security forces themselves. Or rather, it is also possible, but with the risk of being known as a foreign agent under certain circumstances…
By the way, those who are in the “black register” are not given either state or municipal positions, they are obliged to mark all their applications and materials with an indication of their special status — and all their appeals to state bodies or budget organizations, too. And once again, every six months, you will have to submit detailed reports to the Ministry of Justice about the funds received from foreign sources and their spending. For failure to comply with all these requirements, there is an article in the Administrative Code with decent fines of tens of thousands of rubles — for the first time. For those who persist, criminal liability is provided: a fine of up to 300 thousand rubles, or even up to 5 years of imprisonment…