MOSCOW: Russia’s Justice Ministry on Tuesday named nine US media outlets including Voice of America (VOA) as “foreign agents” after President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing international media to be slapped with the controversial label.
The ministry said that US-funded VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and seven of their media affiliates had been recognized as “carrying out the functions of a foreign agent,” in a statement posted on its website.
Putin last month signed into law hastily issued legislation allowing the measure to target media.
Russia said this was a retaliatory move after Kremlin-funded RT television registered as a “foreign agent” in the US under official pressure.
Rights groups fear the law could have a chilling effect on the ability of outlets to carry out independent reporting.
VOA and Radio Free Europe began broadcasting to the Soviet Union in the 1950s, playing a key role in providing its citizens with uncensored news.
Both broadcasters had already been formally warned by the Justice Ministry that they risked recognition as “foreign agents.”
The ministry has now formalized the move, naming them and their affiliates, including RFE’s news outlets dedicated to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine, and the Caucasus.
They also include a television channel run jointly by RFE and VOA called Current Time TV.
Speaking on Current Time TV in Russian, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s president Thomas Kent said that “as a result, the activities of our organization can face even greater restrictions.”
“So far we have no concrete information on these restrictions,” the head of the US Congress-funded corporation said.
He stressed: “We remain committed to continuing our work in journalism in the interests of providing precise and objective information to our Russian-language audience.”
The 2012 law previously applied only to non-governmental organizations that had international funding.
Those branded “foreign agents” have to present themselves as such on all paperwork and submit to intensive scrutiny of their staffing and financing.
Many NGOs have closed down as a result, saying the measure made it too difficult for them to operate.
The US State Department said last month that the new law “presents yet another threat to free media in Russia.”
It said it was “disingenuous” of Moscow to equate the move to RT’s listing as a foreign agent in the US since Washington’s measure “does not restrict an organization’s ability to operate.”
The head of the Russian upper house’s commission for the protection of state sovereignty, Andrei Klimov, said the measure would be strictly enforced but could be reversed.
“If (foreign media) try to get out of it, we will catch up with them anyway, we will force them to obey Russian law,” Klimov told Interfax news agency.
“If Washington comes to its senses and ceases pressure on Russian media, however, in that case we will also consider correcting our decisions.”
Russian MPs are set to vote Wednesday on whether to ban journalists from outlets labelled as “foreign agents” from entering the State Duma lower house of Parliament.
Russia declares 9 US media outlets ‘foreign agents’
Russia declares 9 US media outlets ‘foreign agents’
Norway says Russia, China seek to up presence on Svalbard
- The second-largest town on Svalbard is almost entirely populated by Russian nationals
- China’s presence was becoming more visible in the Arctic
OSLO: While global tensions have focused on Greenland, Norway’s military intelligence service said on Friday that Russia and China were looking to increase their presence on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
In its annual threat assessment, the Norwegian Intelligence Service said that “from Moscow’s perspective, Svalbard’s strategic location makes it necessary to maintain a Russian presence there.”
The second-largest town on Svalbard, the coal mining settlement of Barentsburg, is almost entirely populated by Russian nationals.
“There are signs that the Kremlin is looking to make the Barentsburg settlement less dependent on Norwegian supply and transport infrastructure
“Regular port visits by ships from Russia constitute one planned step in this direction,” the agency said.
It said Beijing was “also expected to work toward enhancing the Chinese presence in Svalbard.”
“The archipelago is strategically placed for future shipping routes and polar research, which are central to cementing China’s role as an Arctic actor,” it said in its report.
It noted that China’s presence was becoming more visible in the Arctic and that five Chinese research vessels had operated in the Arctic Ocean in 2025, compared to three in 2024 and one in previous years.
The service also noted that tensions between the United States and Europe over Greenland and security in the Arctic “could serve both Russian and Chinese interests.”
- ‘Crumbling’ world order -
Andreas Stensones, head of the service, said in the report that Moscow and Beijing stood to benefit as “international cooperation and institutions are being undermined.”
“The same dynamic is evident in the Arctic. Much of the foundation for Norwegian security is being challenged and we must accept that the world order as we have known it is crumbling,” Stensones said.
Speaking at a press conference, Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik noted: “2026 has so far been characterised by great uncertainty.”
He pointed in particular to US President Donald Trump’s vocally stated desire to take over Greenland.
Trump’s threats against Greenland last month plunged NATO — of which Norway is a member — into its deepest crisis in years.
“There is no denying that relations across the Atlantic are more unpredictable,” Sandvik said.
Stensones told the same press conference that Washington’s actions affected how both Moscow and Beijing were thinking and acting.
“In their view, western unity has already begun to crack, and they see great opportunities to strengthen their influence and secure control in their neighboring areas,” he told reporters.
