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Russia has officially designated U.S.-based academic Nina Khrushcheva, the great-granddaughter of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, as a “foreign agent,” a label commonly applied to critics of the Kremlin. Khrushcheva, a professor at The New School in New York, was added to a growing list of individuals accused by Moscow of engaging in anti-Russian activities, bringing the total number on the registry to more than 1,100.

Khrushcheva said she was not surprised by the decision, noting what she described as historical irony given her great-grandfather’s role in denouncing Joseph Stalin in 1956. The designation comes amid renewed debate in Russia over Soviet history and leadership legacies, as Stalin’s reputation has seen a resurgence while criticism of state policies has faced tighter scrutiny.

Russian authorities claim Khrushcheva spread false information about government policies and opposed the country’s military actions in Ukraine. Individuals labeled as foreign agents must comply with strict reporting rules and attach disclaimers to publications and social media posts, a requirement critics say stigmatizes and restricts their professional activities.

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Russian teenager Diana Loginova, an 18-year-old street musician performing under the stage name Naoko with her band Stoptime, has been handed another 13-day jail sentence in St. Petersburg for a new public order offence. Loginova and her fiancé, the band’s guitarist Alexander Orlov, have already served multiple short jail terms and fines after performing songs critical of the Kremlin, drawing attention on social media and prompting young fans to join their street concerts.

Loginova’s performances included cover versions of tracks by exiled Russian artists such as Noize MC and Monetochka, whose songs carry anti-war and anti-Putin messages. Authorities have labeled some of these artists as “foreign agents,” and critics of the government in Russia face intense scrutiny, especially since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Loginova has also been fined for “discrediting the army” and previously jailed for “petty hooliganism,” highlighting the strict enforcement of wartime censorship.

Rights groups like Amnesty International have condemned the repeated arrests, describing them as “carousel arrests” used to prolong detention without formal criminal charges. Loginova still faces additional charges that could result in further fines. Her mother expressed confusion over the authorities’ attention, insisting her daughter and the band had done nothing wrong.

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