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3w ago

UK Adds Russia to Top Tier of Foreign Influence Registration Scheme

The designation requires individuals and entities working on behalf of Russia to register or face criminal penalties, as the UK bolsters national security measures.

A view shows an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine March 29, 2025. REUTERS/Mykola Synelnykov
Spokeswoman of Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends an annual press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, January 14, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/ File Photo
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Overview

  • Russia has been placed in the 'enhanced tier' of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), joining Iran as a nation deemed an acute threat to UK national security.
  • The scheme mandates registration for individuals and entities working on behalf of Russian state bodies, including intelligence services, political parties, and the armed forces, with penalties of up to five years in prison for non-compliance.
  • The UK government cited hostile Russian activities, such as the Salisbury poisonings, cyber attacks, and the invasion of Ukraine, in its decision to elevate Russia to the scheme's highest level.
  • The FIRS program, delayed in 2024, is now set to go live on July 1, 2025, with a three-month grace period for compliance, as the government works with affected sectors to prepare.
  • There is ongoing pressure to include China in the enhanced tier due to its alleged espionage and influence operations, but no decision has been made yet.