Anyone working for the Russian state in the United Kingdom will now have to register in a monitoring system of “foreign influences”, which will come into effect on July 1, announced British security minister Dan Jarvis on Tuesday, according to Agerpres.
“Every individual who engages in activities under an agreement with certain Russian state bodies will have to be included in the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), as well as individuals working on behalf of the Iranian state,” said Dan Jarvis in front of parliament members.
The state will be added to the “enhanced level” of the future FIRS, a status reserved for nations that pose a risk to the security of the United Kingdom’s interests. This means that anyone directed by Russia to engage in activities in the United Kingdom must declare it or risk five years in prison.
“Russia represents a serious threat to British national security. In recent years, its hostile acts have varied, from using a deadly nerve agent in Salisbury, espionage, arson, and cyber attacks, including targeting British parliamentarians, and its illegal invasion of Ukraine clearly demonstrates its intention to undermine security at a European and global level,” mentioned the British minister.
He added that the enhanced level of the scheme will ensure transparency of a wide range of activities and will provide an “important instrument” for detecting and disrupting any “harmful activities” to our country. Jarvis said that anyone “engaging in activity as part of any arrangement” with a number of Russian state bodies, including the head of state, armed forces, and intelligence services, will have to register in the FIRS.
“We also intend to specify certain political parties that are controlled by Russia, including the United Russia party,” he added.
Details, HERE.”