MOSCOW, 31 October 2025. The VCIOM Analytical Center presents the findings of a monitoring study among Russians about foreign agents.
An overseas agent
In recent years the “foreign agent” notion has firmly entered not only the political vocabulary but also the public space in the modern Russia. The “foreign agent” concept is based on negative narratives: basically, the image of enemy and spy incorporating the Soviet era markers (“espionage agent, scout, double agent’), and modern political and legal elements (“fifth column”). For many respondents this word means “foreign”, “dangerous”, not just a person with another viewpoint but an enemy, a betrayer who acts against their home country. Not only does this label describe the fact but it also points to an emotional boundary (fear, distrust, irritation), and perceptions through repressive measures (to imprison, to prosecute, to destroy).
The term “foreign agent” is surely stigmatized; positive, neutral associations and alternative interpretations can hardly be found, however there is still a small group of those who perceive foreign agents through the prism of dissenting views, opposition and struggle for truth.
Welcomed among strangers
Over the recent three years Russians have gotten used to the problematics of the law on foreign agents. Although the public awareness has not increased much, the willingness to approve of the foreign agent labeling has strengthened considerably; public consolidation in favor of the law is evident (2022 — 54%, 2025 — 65%), and the share of those who oppose the labeling has decreased by 1.5-fold since 2022. At the same time, the law is supported across all age groups.
What’s in a name?
In recent years foreign agents have become more recognizable. Those who are aware of the foreign agents more easily name those who were assigned this status. Moreover, the perception of the status is personified and revolves around celebrities, rather than legal or public entities. The list is dominated by artists, performers and bloggers, but not politicians or human rights defenders. What does it mean? Firstly, the foreign agent topic has been successfully mediatized; it is not purely a legal term, but rather a label for certain public figures (as the list contains people who are not foreign agents it is also a marker of social condemnation); secondly, the topic has firmly entered the cultural field.
Top 3 most recognizable foreign agents are M.Galkin *, A.Makarevich* and Morgenshtern* (A.Pugacheva is ranked second but she hasn’t received the foreign agent status); Dozhd is most often mentioned among entities*. At the same time, many of those who have heard about the law failed to name any foreign agent.
*Media outlet or individual declared to be performing the functions of a foreign agent.
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik telephone survey was conducted October 3, 2025. A total of 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interview, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Key effectiveness indicators, survey of October 3, 2025: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7353; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0135; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1267. Calculations are based on corporate standard:
* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.
** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.
** RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.
What associations does “foreign agent” evoke in you? Up to 3 answers (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
Enemies, betrayers |
|
Betrayer / betrayer of the motherland / betrayer of the country / fifth column/ enemy /public enemy / enemy of the country/ against Russia / Russia’ s enemies / who harms Russia / not a patriot | 28 |
Spy / scout / double agent / subversive activity / counterspy / instigator / who collects information/ sabotage/ propaganda/ a saboteur / sabotage attacks | 13 |
Negative attitude, unpleasant emotions |
|
Negative/unpleasant associations / negative attitude/ alertness / danger / distrust | 15 |
Bad person / rascal / scoundrel / wrong-headed person/ rotten-hearted | 8 |
Who left the country / do not allow them back in / they should be kicked out/ they should be deprived of their citizenship / banned in Russia / restricted in rights | 5 |
They should be imprisoned / criminal responsibility / they violate the law/ they should be destroyed | 2 |
Financial and external dependance |
|
Who acts on behalf of another state/ who works for another country/ spy / foreign espionage / special services/ they get money from abroad / activities financed from abroad | 7 |
Foreigner / who has another citizenship / newcomer | 3 |
Opposition and wrongthink |
|
Opposition / against the government / dissident / wrongthink / against SMO/ liberals | 4 |
Artists / actors / public figures | 4 |
Repression / prosecution by the state / political undesirables / restrictions on rights and freedoms/ injustice / unfair actions by authorities | 2 |
Positive associations |
|
Positive associations / neutral perception/ good attitude/ good person/ they tell the truth / honest / decent / they fight for freedom | 4 |
Negative perceptions |
|
Absurd / stupidity / made-up notion / ridiculous | 4 |
Other | 3 |
No associations | 10 |
Don’t know | 19 |
In Russia the foreign agent status is assigned to individuals, unregistered public entities or media outlets funded from abroad and conducting political activities in Russia. Are you aware of this law, have you heard about it, or do you hear for the first time about it? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2022 | 2025 |
I am well aware | 17 | 20 |
I heard something but I don’t know any details | 53 | 55 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 29 | 23 |
Don’t know | 1 | 2 |
In Russia the foreign agent status is assigned to individuals, unregistered public entities or media outlets funded from abroad and conducting political activities in Russia. Are you aware of this law, have you heard about it, or do you hear for the first time about it? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||||||
| Total | Male | Female | Digital generation (2001 and later) | Younger Millennials (1992—2000) | Older Millennials (1982—1991) | Reform generation (1968—1981) | Stagnation generation (1948—1967) | Thaw generation (before 1947) |
I am well aware | 20 | 26 | 15 | 28 | 25 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 7 |
I heard something but I don’t know any details | 55 | 54 | 56 | 44 | 57 | 55 | 55 | 58 | 54 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 23 | 18 | 27 | 28 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 35 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
In your opinion, should the status of foreign agent be assigned to individuals and entities, or not? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who are aware/have heard about it) | ||
| 2022 | 2025 |
Likely necessary | 54 | 65 |
Likely unnecessary | 31 | 20 |
Don’t know | 15 | 15 |
In your opinion, should the status of foreign agent be assigned to individuals and entities, or not? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who are aware/have heard about it) | |||||||||
| Total | Male | Female | Digital generation (2001 and later) | Younger Millennials (1992—2000) | Older Millennials (1982—1991) | Reform generation (1968—1981) | Stagnation generation (1948—1967) | Thaw generation (before 1947) |
Likely necessary | 65 | 67 | 64 | 56 | 53 | 60 | 70 | 76 | 58 |
Likely unnecessary | 20 | 20 | 20 | 29 | 34 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 22 |
Don’t know | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 20 |
Can you name any media outlets, individuals and entities that received a foreign agent status? Any number of answers (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who are aware/have heard of) | ||
| 2022 | 2025 |
Those who named foreign agents | 43 | 57 |
I know nothing | 30 | 18 |
Don’t know | 27 | 25 |
Can you name any media outlets, individuals and entities that received a foreign agent status? Any number of answers (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who are aware/have heard; answers that gained 2% and more) | |
Maxim Galkin* | 28 |
Alla Pugacheva | 13 |
Andrey Makarevich* | 8 |
Morgenshtern* | 7 |
Dozhd* | 7 |
Yury Dud* | 6 |
Semen Slepakov* | 3 |
Meduza* | 3 |
Dmitry Bykov** | 3 |
BI-2*** | 2 |
Tatyana Lazareva** | 2 |
Chulpan Khamatova* | 2 |
Echo of Moscow* | 2 |
Ilya Varlamov** | 2 |
Alexey Navalny** | 2 |
Alexey Pivovarov* | 2 |
Zemfira* | 2 |
Artur Smolyaninov ** | 2 |
I don’t know any of them | 18 |
Other | 19 |
Don’t know | 25 |
* Media outlet or individual declared as performing the functions of a foreign agent.
** Included in the list of organizations and individuals who may be involved in terrorism and extremist activities.
*** Bortnik Egor (Igor) Mikhailovich “Leva Bi-2” is declared to be performing the functions of a foreign agent.
Author: Tatyana Smak