"From Ally to Enemy: Putin's Former Prime Minister Now Labeled a 'Foreign Agent' in Russia"
Mikhail Kasyanov, who served as President Vladimir Putin's first prime minister before becoming one of his opponents, has been added to Russia's register of "foreign agents." This designation is used against figures and organizations receiving support from outside the country and carries pejorative connotations. The law has been frequently used against opposition figures and independent media, requiring them to carry a disclaimer stating their foreign agent status. Kasyanov, who played a key role in economic reforms during his tenure, later became a prominent opposition figure but faded from view as Russia's opposition weakened. He left the country after Putin's military intervention in Ukraine and is currently reported to be in Latvia.