.Authorities in Russia on Friday labelled a Grammy-winning pianist, a priest who assists Ukrainian expatriates as well as a former Soviet spy as "international representatives," the latest upgrade to Moscow's expanding checklist of people it considers as adversaries of the condition.Numerous cultural figures, writers, businessmen, as well as information channels and associations, have actually been branded "overseas representatives"-- which holds unfavorable Soviet-era connotations-- because Russia introduced the regulations in 2012.The Russian Justice Ministry's newest add-on to the "foreign brokers" listing consists of world-renowned show pianist Yevgeny Kissin, Apostolic Orthodox Religion priest Grigory Mikhnov-Vaytenko and ex-KGB policeman Yuri Shvets. Dmitry Tsibirev, that functioned as an organizer for the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in the Saratov location, was actually additionally named a "international broker" on Friday." Kissin resisted the special armed forces operation in Ukraine, took part in fundraising events in support of the Ukrainian armed forces, featuring as part of his touring activities, and likewise transmitted funds to them," the department said.Mikhnov-Vaytenko, at the same time, was implicated of spreading "phony information" concerning the Russian authorizations and offering job interviews to "international agent" media.Shvets, who gives commentary on Russia's war in Ukraine for his well-known YouTube channel, was actually accused of urging countries that are actually "antagonistic" to Russia to step up "illegal activities" against Moscow. Due to the fact that the 1990s, the former spy has actually resided in the United States, where he stores citizenship.Russia applies the condition "foreign agent" to people it views as traitors and also enemies of the state, as well as needs all those classified to indicate their publications along with a long waiver. People branded as "overseas agents" are actually also required to provide thorough economic records to the Compensation Ministry.Independent media has mentioned that the lot of criminal cases against "overseas agents" in Russia greater than doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year..Russian authorizations have actually transferred to even further firm up regulations targeting "foreign representatives" in latest months.