In a move aimed at curbing opposition to President Vladimir Putin's regime, Russia's justice ministry has listed former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov as a "foreign agent." Kasyanov, a prominent critic of Putin, left Russia shortly after the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

As part of the "foreign agent" designation, Kasyanov and others on the list are required to disclose their status on all published materials, including social media. Additionally, they must provide detailed information about their funding sources to the authorities. Furthermore, their political participation in Russia is restricted.

The justice ministry cited Kasyanov's opposition to the military operation in Ukraine as reason for his inclusion on the list. They also mentioned his affiliation with the Russian Anti-War Committee, an association dedicated to discrediting Russia's foreign and domestic policies.

Initially, the "foreign agent" law targeted non-governmental organizations that received foreign funding. However, it has since been expanded to encompass individuals and media outlets, whether Russian or foreign, deemed to be under foreign influence.

This comes after the Party of People's Freedom (Parnas), led by Kasyanov, was ordered for liquidation by Russia's Supreme Court in May. Parnas, a small liberal opposition party, had included Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Putin critic who was tragically shot dead near the Kremlin in 2015.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the mayor of Kyiv has declared that Russia recently conducted its largest drone strike since the beginning of the war in 2022. Ukrainian sources claim that about 20 Russian soldiers were killed in the attack, which took place in the occupied Donetsk region.

The inclusion of Kasyanov on the "foreign agents" list increases concerns regarding the shrinking space for dissent in Russia. Critics argue that the label is used as a tool to suppress opposition and limit freedom of expression, while the government maintains that it is necessary to safeguard national interests. As the political landscape continues to shift, the impact of these actions will undoubtedly be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.