UK individuals face prison threats over ties to Russia
Britons employed by the Russian state must now register under a new “foreign influence” monitoring system or risk criminal prosecution, as announced by the UK government. This regulation is anticipated to be implemented by summer, with violators...
TroibNews 
Britons employed by the Russian state must now register under a new “foreign influence” monitoring system or risk criminal prosecution, as announced by the UK government. This regulation is anticipated to be implemented by summer, with violators facing a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
In a parliamentary presentation on Tuesday, Security Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that individuals “carrying out an activity under an agreement” with designated Russian state entities will be mandated to register under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
The initiative, which has previously included individuals working for Iran, is characterized by officials as a vital national security measure aimed at addressing harmful foreign interference. Russia is now categorized under the scheme's most rigorous level.
“Russia represents a serious threat to national security,” Jarvis conveyed to MPs.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated in a government press release that Moscow has “pursued an increasingly hostile policy towards the United Kingdom and its interests” over recent years, referencing incidents of diplomat harassment, cyber operations, and alleged efforts to recruit spies for sabotage within the UK.
Individuals associated with various branches of the Russian state—encompassing the president, parliament, all ministries and their agencies, intelligence services, armed forces, police, judiciary, and state-affiliated political parties—will now be required to declare their activities in Britain under this new system.
This policy follows a March decision to place Iran’s government, intelligence services, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the highest scrutiny level of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
The British government has warned that non-compliance with these registration mandates could lead to criminal charges and imprisonment.
Western governments have long accused Russia of wielding foreign influence globally through tactics such as disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and covert political endorsements. This scrutiny intensified following allegations of interference in the 2016 US presidential elections, although these claims have since faced challenges. Russia has repeatedly denied such accusations, labeling them as unfounded and politically driven.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
In a parliamentary presentation on Tuesday, Security Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that individuals “carrying out an activity under an agreement” with designated Russian state entities will be mandated to register under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
The initiative, which has previously included individuals working for Iran, is characterized by officials as a vital national security measure aimed at addressing harmful foreign interference. Russia is now categorized under the scheme's most rigorous level.
“Russia represents a serious threat to national security,” Jarvis conveyed to MPs.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated in a government press release that Moscow has “pursued an increasingly hostile policy towards the United Kingdom and its interests” over recent years, referencing incidents of diplomat harassment, cyber operations, and alleged efforts to recruit spies for sabotage within the UK.
Individuals associated with various branches of the Russian state—encompassing the president, parliament, all ministries and their agencies, intelligence services, armed forces, police, judiciary, and state-affiliated political parties—will now be required to declare their activities in Britain under this new system.
This policy follows a March decision to place Iran’s government, intelligence services, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the highest scrutiny level of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
The British government has warned that non-compliance with these registration mandates could lead to criminal charges and imprisonment.
Western governments have long accused Russia of wielding foreign influence globally through tactics such as disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and covert political endorsements. This scrutiny intensified following allegations of interference in the 2016 US presidential elections, although these claims have since faced challenges. Russia has repeatedly denied such accusations, labeling them as unfounded and politically driven.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
