Press Release, 14.11.2024

Photo: Nikolai Kuzmin at the building of the Pskov City Court challenging his “foreign agent” status / Photo from social media

On 14 November, the Assembly of Zavelichenskaya Volost of the Pskov District considered the early termination of the powers of deputy from Yabloko Nikolai Kuzmin due to the fact that he was included in the register of “foreign agents”. Ten deputies voted for stripping Kuzmin of his mandate, one abstained, and one (Nikolai Kuzmin himself) voted against; 12 out of 14 current deputies took part in the session.

Before the vote, Nikolai Kuzmin addressed his fellow deputies:

“On April 12, when I was included in the register of so-called “foreign agents,” I could not only remain a deputy, but also participate in the elections. What has changed during this time?

Perhaps foreign funding has increased dramatically? Everything is just the opposite, now no funding is needed at all to be included in the register.

Today, people are included in these lists for their words! I am no exception, I was included in the list for several publications by other “foreign agents”. I did not receive foreign money, the ministry officially acknowledges this.

Once again, officials recognised me as a “foreign agent” for my views, that is, for legal political activity.

I tried to challenge this decision in the courts, went through the city court and appealed [inclusion in the register] in the regional court. I lost … but you can answer the question yourself, is it possible to achieve justice in political cases in the courts of general jurisdiction today?

I also went to the Supreme Court in another case, challenging the rule banning “foreign agents” from being elected. There is no answer yet, but the goal is the Constitutional Court.

However, last month, after several years of studying cases, the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision on our legislation on “foreign agents”.

The ECHR decision recognised this norm as unlawful. This is an absolutely correct decision, since our law allows a person to be recognised as a “foreign agent” for anything, without even proving whose agent he is, in whose interests he works. An agent without a principal.”

***

In May, the State Duma adopted a law banning “foreign agents” from participating in elections at all levels and early terminating the powers of deputies with the “foreign agent” status if they fail to remove this status within 180 days.

Nikolai Kuzmin is an electrical engineer, economist, member of the Yabloko party, and member of the Bureau of the Regional Council of the Pskov Yabloko.

In 2020, he became a deputy of the Assembly of Deputies of the rural settlement Zavelichinskaya Volost of the fourth convocation in multi-mandate electoral district No. 2. He came first among his four competitors with a result of 42.48%.

The politician continues to challenge the status of “foreign agent” in court.