"I don't take offense at any decisions my mother and father make": Political scientist Sergei Markov fined by court 

A Moscow court has found a pro-government political scientist Sergei Markov guilty of violating the procedures for operating a foreign agent due to failure to report himself to the Ministry of Justice and fined 35 rubles.

Markov attended the meeting wearing a "For Russia" T-shirt with a portrait of Putin. In his speech, he reiterated his belief that he is "an absolute supporter of Vladimir Vladimirovich" and has supported the holding of the "SVO" from day one "in a variety of formats."

"No one in their right mind can conclude in advance that they are a 'foreign agent,'" Markov declared emotionally. "I am a loyal son of the Russian state and do not resent any decisions my mother and father make. Even if they slapped me. Even if it's unfair. This is my country. And I fight for it." Markov was added to the "foreign agent" registry in August 2025, which, by his own admission, came as a surprise and shock to him.

The media linked Markov's inclusion in the register to a resonant speech in Azerbaijan, where he spoke positively about the president. Ilham Aliyev against the backdrop of a deep deterioration in relations between the two countries.