The journalist of Vostochnye Stories was denied participation in the hackathon due to the status of an “foreign agent”

The open data research project “Information Culture” refused to cooperate with the journalist of “Important Stories” Alesya Marokhovskaya, recognized as an “foreign agent”. About this she reported в Facebook.

According to Marokhovskaya, Infokultura invited her to take part in the hackathon as a mentor long before the event (it should take place in December). On Monday, August 30, the organizers announced that they would not be able to work with her due to the status of “foreign agent”.

“Their lawyers believe that then they themselves run the risk of becoming foreign agents. This is how the “wonderful” colleagues were the first to demonstrate to me what it means to be a foreign agent in Russia: they will shun you and piss to do business with you, ”the journalist wrote.

Director of “Information Culture” Ivan Begtin replied to Marokhovskaya that the project works “in the legal legal field with all its restrictions.” “Our lawyers assess the risks that the organization faces or may face. We work in difficult conditions, under pressure that we do not write about publicly, ”he said and apologized to the journalist.

This year, the authorities have stepped up pressure on independent media. In the spring, the Ministry of Justice declared Meduza and VTimes “foreign agents.” In July “Project” became the first media to be recognized as an “undesirable organization”. On August 20, the Ministry of Justice added to the list of “foreign agents” making in it “Rain”, “Important stories” and several journalists, including Marokhovskaya. Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov spokethat the inclusion of journalists in the register is “not the equivalent of being banned from work.”