Putin clamps down on Russia's economy and military secrets amid war
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expanded the scope of information covered by Russia's state secrets law, Bloomberg informs.
Under a decree published on the Russian government's website, details about Russia's foreign policy, international trade, economic policy, scientific developments, and preparations for potential military mobilization can now be classified as secret if their disclosure is deemed harmful to national security.
Bloomberg also quoted Andrei Soldatov, an expert on Russia's security services.
"This is the destruction of expertise on the Russian economy based on facts and statistics, and will lead to more repression," he said.
At the same time, Soldatov believes the move to classify mobilization-related information was likely a response to Ukrainian drone attacks. He said it reflects efforts to conceal data such as the locations of bunkers and underground government relocation plans. He does not believe it signals preparations for a new military draft.
Bloomberg noted that Russia had already stopped publishing many types of data since the start of the war. This includes key budget figures and official oil production statistics. Information about Russian military losses is also classified.
As a reminder, a few weeks ago, Putin held a meeting with the Security Council to step up military propaganda efforts targeting young people. According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin is actively using patriotic programs to prepare the public for a protracted war.
