The population control system is gradually improving and becoming more sophisticated. It is based on the gradual tightening of measures to ensure complete obedience through propaganda and repressive tools. The State authorities have drawn attention to the inadmissibility of quoting foreign agents this week and have proposed fines of up to 500,000 rubles for violators. Moreover, the control over mobile phone subscribers gets stronger. The measures implemented appear to be specifically designed to prevent unregulated communication among the general public. Any form of uncontrolled communication seems to be a target of these measures. The Kremlin's goal is to maintain "stability" and totalitarian control in the country, and it is not expected that the political situation will change soon.
"Foreign agents" will be fined up to 500,000 rubles for quoting. The Cabinet plans to adopt a resolution at the end of November on introducing fines for disseminating information from "foreign agents" without labelling.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) is connected to the control tightening over the mobile subscribers. The Russian government is discussing stricter regulation of SIM card circulation. In particular, authorities want operators to activate sold SIM cards only after verifying the passport data of subscribers with the MIA.
The State Duma is preparing a bill on the loyalty of migrants. It includes, in particular, the requirement for foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation to agree to abide by specific rules, including "not engaging in discrediting" Russia's internal and external policies.
The punishment for bribery will be increased to 10,000 rubles, which is a stricter penalty. The State Duma plans to adopt the corresponding bill by the end of this year. The initiative has already received positive feedback from the Supreme Court and the Cabinet of Ministers. Instead of one year of imprisonment, under the new rules, offenders will face up to three years of deprivation or four years of restricted freedom, as well as a fine of up to 1 million rubles.
