Russia has designated the Moscow Times as an 'undesirable' organization, prohibiting its operations within Russia and subjecting anyone cooperating with it to potential prosecution.

The Kremlin has started a movement against independent media and reporting since Russia launched a military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

“A decision has been taken to announce the activities of the Moscow Times, a foreign non-government organisation, undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation,” the office of Russia’s prosecutor general said.

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The outlet was trying to disgrace the decisions of the leadership of the Russian Federation in both foreign and domestic policy”, it added.

It is worth mentioning that, The Moscow Times, which publishes in English and Russian and has been reporting on the country since the early 1990s, relocated to Amsterdam in 2022.

Being labelled "undesirable" compels organisations to cease operations in Russia. Russians who work for, fund, or collaborate with them risk prosecution, potentially facing up to five year&nbsp;imprisonments for certain activities.&nbsp;

“We will continue with our work as usual, ‘independent journalism’. That’s a crime in Putin’s Russia,” the Moscow Times founder, Derk Sauer, said in a post on X.

Notably, Russians had before been penalised for reposting web links and articles published by so-called undesirable organisations, the independent Mediazona site reported.

The online outlet, which for years published an English-language paper in Moscow, is popular with Russian watchers abroad. The Moscow Times gained a reputation as a training ground for future stars of foreign correspondence.

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US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested last year on espionage charges rejected by him and his employer, worked in Moscow for the outlet at the start of his career.

Russia wields the "undesirable organization" label to silence media outlets and NGOs critical of the Kremlin and allegedly supporting opposition groups.

Critics have described the law as an oppressive tool used to nullify dissent.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia has designated the Moscow Times as an 'undesirable' organization, prohibiting its operations within Russia and subjecting anyone cooperating with it to potential prosecution.

Russia has designated the Moscow Times as an 'undesirable' organization, prohibiting its operations within Russia and subjecting anyone cooperating with it to potential prosecution. The Kremlin has started a movement against independent media and reporting since Russia launched a military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. “A decision has been taken to announce the activities of the Moscow Times, a foreign non-government organisation, undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation,” the office of Russia’s prosecutor general said. Also read: China warns NATO against 'provoking confrontation' over relations with Russia The outlet was trying to disgrace the decisions of the leadership of the Russian Federation in both foreign and domestic policy”, it added. It is worth mentioning that, The Moscow Times, which publishes in English and Russian and has been reporting on the country since the early 1990s, relocated to Amsterdam in 2022. Being labelled "undesirable" compels organisations to cease operations in Russia. Russians who work for, fund, or collaborate with them risk prosecution, potentially facing up to five year imprisonments for certain activities. “We will continue with our work as usual, ‘independent journalism’. That’s a crime in Putin’s Russia,” the Moscow Times founder, Derk Sauer, said in a post on X. Notably, Russians had before been penalised for reposting web links and articles published by so-called undesirable organisations, the independent Mediazona site reported. The online outlet, which for years published an English-language paper in Moscow, is popular with Russian watchers abroad. The Moscow Times gained a reputation as a training ground for future stars of foreign correspondence. Also read | NATO summit: Ukraine gets F-16 jets, 'irreversible' path to bloc membership US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested last year on espionage charges rejected by him and his employer, worked in Moscow for the outlet at the start of his career. Russia wields the "undesirable organization" label to silence media outlets and NGOs critical of the Kremlin and allegedly supporting opposition groups. Critics have described the law as an oppressive tool used to nullify dissent. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia bans Moscow Times in media clampdown

The Moscow Times, which is an English and Russian-language online newspaper, said late on Friday (Nov 18) that the Russian justice ministry has designated it as a "foreign agent". The justice ministry also added an artist and journalists to the list that it traditionally updates on Fridays.&nbsp;

The label "foreign agents" means the media outlet will have strict financial reporting and self-disclosure requirements. It also requires media outlets and designated journalists to place a disclaimer on items they publish.&nbsp;

As reported by local media outlets, the justice ministry in a statement accused the Moscow Times of distributing inaccurate information about decisions taken by the authorities. It said that the outlet is forming what it called a negative image of Russia.&nbsp;

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The ministry said that the publication "carried out actions aimed at forming a negative public image" and featured material written by other foreign agents.&nbsp;

The "foreign agent" legislation had been "disproportionately used to target independent journalists, activists and NGOs in recent years", said The Moscow Times on its website which is in English and in Russian. A part of its staff left Russia after the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine.&nbsp;

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"The (justice) ministry’s foreign agent registry lists the websites of MT’s English and Russian-language editions — as well as its social media pages, including on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Telegram — as subject to restrictions," it added.&nbsp;

This move comes amid the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to curb dissent since launching the assault on Ukraine, with most high-profile opponents in exile or behind bars.

Russian state communications regulator Roskomnadzor had already blocked the publication's website inside the country.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Moscow Times, which is an English and Russian-language online newspaper, said late on Friday (Nov 18) that the Russian justice ministry has designated it as a "foreign agent".

The Moscow Times, which is an English and Russian-language online newspaper, said late on Friday (Nov 18) that the Russian justice ministry has designated it as a "foreign agent". The justice ministry also added an artist and journalists to the list that it traditionally updates on Fridays. The label "foreign agents" means the media outlet will have strict financial reporting and self-disclosure requirements. It also requires media outlets and designated journalists to place a disclaimer on items they publish. As reported by local media outlets, the justice ministry in a statement accused the Moscow Times of distributing inaccurate information about decisions taken by the authorities. It said that the outlet is forming what it called a negative image of Russia. Also read: Naked bodies of Russian couple found in India's Himachal Pradesh, probe on The ministry said that the publication "carried out actions aimed at forming a negative public image" and featured material written by other foreign agents. The "foreign agent" legislation had been "disproportionately used to target independent journalists, activists and NGOs in recent years", said The Moscow Times on its website which is in English and in Russian. A part of its staff left Russia after the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine. Also read: Fukushima wastewater release: PM Fumio Kishida says China agreed to discuss Japanese seafood ban Watch: Erdogan's tense visit to Germany: Overshadowed by Israel-Hamas war × "The (justice) ministry’s foreign agent registry lists the websites of MT’s English and Russian-language editions — as well as its social media pages, including on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Telegram — as subject to restrictions," it added. This move comes amid the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to curb dissent since launching the assault on Ukraine, with most high-profile opponents in exile or behind bars. Russian state communications regulator Roskomnadzor had already blocked the publication's website inside the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia adds The Moscow Times to its list of 'foreign agents'

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Russia bans Moscow Times in media clampdown

Russia adds The Moscow Times to its list of 'foreign agents'