Moscow, August 25, 2025. — Russian political analyst Sergei Markov, a former State Duma deputy and longtime loyalist of Vladimir Putin, has publicly admitted he fears criminal prosecution after state TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov called for him to be jailed.
“Of course I am afraid. He [Solovyov] promised to get me listed as a ‘foreign agent.’ And he managed to do it,” Markov told Ostorozhno Media, adding that despite the pressure, he still “wants to believe in Russia.”
The episode has sparked debate because Markov is no oppositionist. For decades he has been a faithful Kremlin mouthpiece, defending Moscow’s narratives at home and abroad. Yet his name recently appeared on the Justice Ministry’s registry of “foreign agents” — a move that many see as political punishment, not legal formality.
Shusha: The Breaking Point
Markov’s troubles trace back to his participation at the media forum in Shusha in July, where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev openly reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Markov did not object, did not challenge Aliyev — and in the Kremlin’s rigid logic, that silence was unforgivable.
He was not alone. Mikhail Gusman, deputy head of TASS and another attendee in Shusha, was swiftly removed from his post. The message from Moscow was blunt: any Russian public figure who fails to counter Aliyev’s rhetoric risks political ruin.
Loyalty Means Nothing
That Russia would brand Markov a “foreign agent” is deeply ironic. His entire career has been spent amplifying Putin’s positions. Yet his “crime” was not proximity to the West but appearing too tolerant of Azerbaijan’s stance at a sensitive moment.
This reflects Moscow’s deeper anxieties. As Azerbaijan asserts itself — from Washington-backed peace agreements to bold statements on Ukraine — the Kremlin’s influence in the South Caucasus looks increasingly fragile. Unable to retaliate directly against Baku, Russia lashes inward, punishing its own commentators for failing to perform the ritual of objection.
A Chilling Precedent
Markov’s case illustrates a new phase in Russia’s authoritarian system: disciplining loyalty itself. His blacklisting is not about foreign money or hostile propaganda. It is about drawing red lines in the Russia–Azerbaijan rivalry and sending a warning to others.
The chilling signal is clear: in today’s Russia, silence at the wrong moment can be as dangerous as open dissent.
