Page 58 - RusRPTMar23

introduction of such a restriction. Instead, the EU proposed new sanctions against four Russian banks, a ban on the import of rubber, and additional restrictions on exporting electronic components that can be used to produce weapons. The new trade bans will cost Russia €10B, but according to a diplomat, this is calculated in 2021 prices, so it is greatly inflated.
Russia, Iran link banking systems amid Western sanctions. Tehran and Moscow signed a deal on Jan. 29, connecting their interbank communication and transfer systems to stimulate trade and financial transactions, Reuters reported.
Russia continues to access foreign chips and technology through intermediaries like Iran, a senior US official responsible for regulating exports said on February 17. Group of Seven member states are discussing whether to sanction companies in China, Iran and North Korea they believe are providing Russia with parts and technology that have military purposes.
Russian politics
There is evidence that Putin supplied missile that downed MH17. There are strong "strong indications" that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin decided to supply a missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, the Joint Investigation Team said in a report published on Feb. 8.
Russia's state censor to track Putin memes with help of AI. Russia's federal agency for monitoring and censoring communications, Roskomnadzor, is planning to use AI to try to track online posts, comments and memes critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a report by Russian investigative outlet iStories.
Moscow declared several more organisations “undesirable” in February ,
including Latvia-based news outlet Meduza Foundation
are banned from operating General Prosecutor’s Office
outlet
Andrei Sakharov Free Russia Forum.
the first Russian news
, and the Lithuania-based political platform
The government declared
such as
more than 70 organizations
, the US-based
More severe than the “foreign agent” designation, undesirable organizations
within Russia, and anyone collaborating with or
donating to undesirable groups can be fined or jailed. According to the
, these organizations “pose a threat to the
foundations of constitutional order and the security of the Russian Federation.”
undesirable between
2015 and 2023, but until recently, the label was primarily assigned to foreign
NGOs. Now, the designation is being used as part of the Kremlin’s ongoing
crackdown on independent media. Proekt became
sources
to be declared undesirable in 2021, followed by other investigative
Bellingcat and The Insider. Josep Borrell, EU High
Representative for Foreign Affairs,
called
Meduza’s undesirable status an
“attack on media freedom in Russia.” Russian authorities “want to prevent
independent media from providing Russian audiences any access to factual
information about the war,” Borrell said.
58 RUSSIA Country Report March 2023 www.intellinews.com