People’s Power movement will initiate the Foreign Agents Registration bill at today’s Bureau sitting.

Individuals and legal entities who receive funding from abroad will be required to register as foreign agents, according to the draft, though the changes will not apply to diplomats, consuls, diplomatic service, and consular institution employees. The draft law does not apply to foreign officials or charitable, religious, educational, scientific, academic, or artistic activities.

According to the bill, entities that meet the bill’s criteria for being an agent of a foreign power must apply to the General Prosecutor and request registration as a foreign agent. Non-compliance or improper compliance with the obligation is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 5 years.

People’s Power also introduced legislation on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which stipulates the registration of non-commercial (non-entrepreneurial) legal entities and media outlets as agents of foreign influence if over 20% of their income comes from abroad.

Anyone considered an agent of foreign influence must be registered in the public registry under the same name in the database.