Future of Opposition Party Rassvet in Limbo as It Prepares to Dispute ‘Foreign Agent’ Designation

Nov. 9, 2026 Yekaterina Duntsova. @Duntsova / Telegram The opposition party Rassvet has suspended the opening of new regional branches as it considers its future after being designated a “foreign agent” last week, the party’s founder, Yekaterina Duntsova, said on Sunday. Russia’s Justice Ministry included Rassvet alongside another unregistered anti-Kremlin party in its list of “foreign agents” on Friday. Rassvet denied the ministry’s claims that it received foreign funding and accused the government of banning opposition activity in Russia. Duntsova said the party held an emergency video conference with its members over the weekend, during which its central council decided to pause local organizing efforts as it prepares a legal challenge against the “foreign agent” designation. “We’re suspending inaugural meetings of regional branches until the lawsuit against the Justice Ministry can be heard,” Duntsova wrote in a post on Telegram. She said an internal survey among all registered party members will be conducted this week in order to determine “whether to continue the registration procedure, preserve Rassvet as an association recognized as a foreign agent or completely cease operations.” Earlier on Sunday, Rassvet’s Amur region branch in Far East Russia announced its closure due to the “foreign agent” status. Russia applies the designation to individuals and entities it views as enemies of the state. Those branded as “foreign agents” are required to include a lengthy disclaimer in all of their public appearances and statements, including posts on social media. Rassvet’s Amur region branch said legal restrictions prohibit it from holding any new meetings or working “in the usual format.” Duntsova founded Rassvet in 2024, the same year she was barred from challenging Vladimir Putin in the presidential election. Read more about: Politics , Opposition , Foreign Agents Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more opinion Boris Bondarev Russia’s Opposition Wants You to Vote Against United Russia. That’s Where Its Strategy Ends. Building lasting political power takes more than telling people which box to check on the ballot. 6 Min read ‘Peaceful Russia’: Anti-War Exiles Found Their First Political Party The Peaceful Russia party wants to work on behalf of Kremlin critics inside and outside the country. But many questions remain unanswered. 6 Min read Instagram Star’s Appeal to Putin Sets Off a War of Words, From State TV to the Opposition Viktoria Bonya’s viral message to Putin about the plight of ordinary Russians has become a political lightning rod. 4 Min read Explainer: Does Russia’s ‘Systemic Opposition’ Still Exist? Even minor differences between these parties have seemingly vanished since the invasion of Ukraine. Can they still play a political role? 5 Min read