Russia slams 'insane' UK rules targeting Russian influence

MOSCOW — Russia on Wednesday sharply criticised new UK rules forcing those working for the Russian state in Britain to declare themselves or face jail, saying there was little clarity about who would be affected.

The British government announced Tuesday it was placing Moscow on its "Foreign Influence Registration Scheme", meaning anyone directed by the Russian government, or by an entity linked to it, would have to register on a new list launching in July or risk five years in prison.

"On April 1, the day of jokes, laughter and fools, Britain's Home Office and Foreign Office celebrated together," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram.

Describing the new rules as "truly insane", Zakharova jokingly suggested that British museums covering the UK's past cooperation with the Soviet Union would have to register and accused London of paranoia.

The UK's Home Office said anyone working for Russian government agencies, armed forces, intelligence services and police force, parliaments and their judiciaries would be subject to the measures.

Relations between Moscow and London have been strained by intelligence scandals throughout Russian President Vladimir Putin's quarter-century in power.

Last month, a jury at a British court convicted three Bulgarians for their part in a sophisticated UK-based spy ring that targeted journalists and passed sensitive information to Russia over three years.

In 2018, Britain and its allies expelled dozens of Russian embassy officials they said were spies over the attempted poisoning of a former double agent, Sergei Skripal, with Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.