Putin has Used Foreign Agents Law to ‘Strangle Freedom’ in Russia, Abramenko Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Oct. 22 – When the history of the Putin regime is written, the image that will stand out above all others is the Russian anecdote about the frog in hot water. If the frog is thrown directly into hot water, he will almost certainly try to jump out; but if he is put in lukewarm water, he will adapt only to die when the water heats up to an unbearable temperature.

            Again and again, Putin has introduced what appears to some a moderate measure even if many see it as repressive, had it accepted or dismissed by many as “not that bad,” and then tightened it to the point that it comes to “strangle” one or another of the few remaining rights that Russians had enjoyed before he became committed to dictatorial rule.

            Olga Abramenko, an expert at the Memorial Anti-Discrimination Center, describes how the Kremlin modified and then extended this measure step-by-step to the point that it has come to “strangle freedom” in Russia across the board  (themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/22/how-the-kremlins-foreign-agents-law-strangled-freedom-in-russia-a90872).

            Her article provides a useful guide to how this has been done, but she says that unfortunately, there is no sign that the Kremlin won’t go even further and use what started as a registration device to shutter and punish still more individuals and groups that the powers that be don’t want to have around.