Russian authorities have banned public discussions of a wide range of non-classified military subjects that activists say will effectively prevent the public from learning crucial information about the Armed Forces.The 60-point Federal Security Service (FSB) order, which enters into force Dec.
1, lists information that is not classified as a state secret, but which can be used by foreign states, organizations and citizens against Russias security.Among the subjects banned from discussion are the structure and size of the Russian Armed Forces.Other off-limits areas include weapons, troop deployments and training, as well as troop morale and crimes committed by members of the Armed Forces.Mobilization and civil defense topics are also barred from being openly discussed, as are assessments and forecasts of Russias military and strategic situation.The FSB listmirrors last years ban on sharing non-classified information in Russias defense and space industries.It was revised last month toinclude information about the transportation of military personnel and ongoing military construction.The purpose of the updated law with the FSB list is to make sure we dont see anything, Sergei Krivenko, the head of the Moscow-based NGO Citizen, Army - the Law, said Wednesday.Those who share the information publicly risk being labeled foreign agents, a Soviet-era designation with draconian rules and restrictions.This doesnt only refer to foreign agents, but also ordinary citizens who may be recognized as distributors of information detrimental to Russia, Krivenko told Sever.Realii, a regional affiliate of the United States -funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) news organization.Prominent human rights lawyer Pavel Chikov sought to dispel unwarranted alarmism about the list, suggesting the FSB is unlikely to start slapping the foreign agent label indiscriminately on anyone who discusses Russias war in Ukraine.To date, not a single case of the [FSBs] list being applied is known, Chikov wrote on social media Thursday.
This of course doesnt mean that this will continue.Also entering into force Thursday is Russias expanded foreign agent law that will give Russian authorities extra leeway to declare citizens and organizations foreign agents.To be branded a foreign agent nowadays, you dont even need foreign funding, foreign influence is enough, said Alexander Peredruk, who has represented several foreign agents in court.Some lawyers believe that the 60-point list only applies to members of Russias security services and does not limit public discussions of sensitive but unclassified matters, according to Sever.Realii.