The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation explained that Valeria Vetoshkina*, a lawyer from the First Department human rights association, was included in the register of “foreign agents” by the fact that she participated in the creation of materials by other “foreign agents”. The First Department reports this in a telegram.
Valery Vetoshkina. Photo: social networks
In objections to the lawsuit to recognize Vetoshkina as a “foreign agent”, the Ministry of Justice mentions the comments that she gave to such publications as Current Time *, Sever.Realii *, Crimea. Realii* Meduza* and Radio Liberty*.
“As expected, I was included in the register of foreign media agents for my professional activities. And not journalistic, but legal. Imputed dissemination of information — comments to the media, which in fact were a method of protecting my principals. Glasnost is an important tool in the work of a human rights activist, and I will continue to use it in the future, despite the obvious opposition from the state,” the girl said.
The DOJ document also provides examples of «foreign funding». Among other things, the department mentions a money transfer received from Memorial Human Rights Center* as payment for cooperation with OVD-Info* — the lawyer provided legal support and went to the courts of detainees during the January 2021 protests. As another example, the Ministry of Justice cites the reimbursement of the cost of a train ticket, on which the girl traveled to the human rights seminar.