The status of “foreign agent” can be extended not only to foreign media that perform the functions of a foreign agent (legal entities or other structures), but also to individuals, that is, individual citizens, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
This was stated by one of the co-authors of the amendment to the Law “On the Mass Media” and the Federal Law “On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection” recommended today by the relevant committee of the Duma for adoption in the second reading.
According to the Duma member, it is proposed to specify the requirements for foreign media outlets performing the functions of foreign agents. In particular, such a media outlet will be able to disseminate information only through a Russian legal entity established by it, performing the functions of a foreign agent.
“The entry of individuals into the register of foreign media outlets performing the functions of foreign agents will be carried out if a number of mandatory criteria are present,” Piskarev said.
“The first sign is participation in the creation or dissemination of information by a foreign media outlet performing the functions of a foreign agent. Moreover, it will be possible to get into the Ministry of Justice register by creating and disseminating information not only from a foreign media outlet - a foreign agent, but also from a Russian legal entity established by it. The second qualifying feature of a foreign agent will necessarily be the receipt of funds from foreign agent media,” the deputy added.
According to him, the same criteria will be applied to Russian legal entities collaborating with foreign media agents.
At the same time, he noted that nine media outlets are currently recognized as performing the functions of a foreign agent in Russia: “Voice of America”, “Idel.Realii”, “Caucasus.Realii”, “Crimea.Realii”, TV channel “Current Time”, Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Liberty (Azatliq Radiosi), “Sibir.Realii” and “Factographer”. Therefore, according to him, inclusion in the Ministry of Justice register “may affect a small circle of individuals.”
Vasily Piskarev argues that the proposed changes in legislation are not aimed at restricting freedom of speech.
“After being included in the appropriate register, citizens and legal entities will also continue their creative activities and publish, but at the same time they are required to fulfill a number of mandatory conditions: mark their information materials with the stamp “Made by a foreign agent”, give an annual report to the Ministry of Justice on their activities and , where funds received from foreign sources are spent, and also publish a publicly accessible report on its activities every six months,” he concluded.
For example, the State Duma Committee on State Construction and Legislation recommended adopting in the second reading a bill providing for an administrative fine of up to 5 million rubles for violating the rules of operation of a media outlet performing the functions of a foreign agent.
For the second reading, an amendment was supported on the date of entry into force of the bill - from February 1, 2020.