Deputies of the ruling "United Russia" party are planning to include Russian media sources which have foreign sources of income into the list of "specially checked" organizations. According to pro-Kremlin paper Izvestia, the respective amendments to the "Mass Communication Media Law" will be considered at the Parliament's autumn session.

      Two United Russia deputies, Vladimir Burmatov and Ilya Kostunov are the main initiators of the amendments. According to them, many media sources "are financially backed from abroad, they interfere with domestic politics and are just foreign propaganda sources." Kostunov said that the autumn State Duma parliamentary session would start with the discussion of labeling foreign financed media as "foreign agents." 

      "I think that the 'foreign agents' topic is not over yet. Many media sources are financed from abroad and are a way to develop propaganda. At the same time they pretend to earn money by themselves, without help," Kostunov said.

      At his turn, Burmatov said the very term "foreign agent" is misunderstood, as it is not equal to "foreign spy". "But if foreign financing is 50% and over, that means that foreign businessman have taken control of the media's editorial policy," he said. 

      Earlier in July the Russian parliament approved a law according to which non-profit organizations financed from abroad must be labeled "foreign agents." According to it, such organizations must be included to a special register and be taken under exclusive control. Those avoiding entering the register will be sentenced to correctional tasks or to fines. The law provoked protest from many NGOs and rights activists. 

Sources: Lenta.ru Gazeta.ru Image: polit.ru

      Relative News: Russian Lower House to Unmask "Foreign Agents" (11.07.2012)