Moscow, Nov 15 (AFP) Russian MPs today backed newlegislation allowing foreign media outlets to be listed as"foreign agents" in a reciprocal response to US pressure onKremlin-backed TV channel RT.
Russian MPs backed amendments that would allowinternational media that receive financing from abroad to beclassified as "foreign agents," RIA Novosti news agencyreported, a measure previously used only against NGOs.
Outlets such as Voice of America and Radio FreeEurope/Radio Liberty, which receive funding from the USCongress, would be forced to register as foreign agents.
Members of parliament have given contradictory statementson whether the law could apply to commercial TV network CNN.
A total of 409 lawmakers out of 450 voted to back theamendments, while no one voted against or abstained, TASSstate news agency reported.
The lower house of parliament's deputy speaker PyotrTolstoy said in parliament the reciprocal measures were"forced" by the actions of the United States.
"This decision that we are taking is a forced one, noneof us wanted to take such a decision, and it will notinfluence freedom of speech in our country at all," Tolstoysaid, quoted by RIA Novosti.
The amendments were rushed in, with MPs skipping thefirst reading of the law on a technicality.
The third reading is seen as a formality, after which theamendments will have to be passed by the Senate and then besigned into law by President Vladimir Putin.
A Russian law adopted in 2012 forces NGOs that haveinternational funding and whose activities are deemed"political" to undergo intensive checks and label themselvesas "foreign agents" on paperwork and statements.
Many NGOs have closed in response to the legislation.
RT television, which is funded by the Kremlin to give aRussian point of view on international affairs, confirmedMonday it has registered as a foreign agent in the UnitedStates, meeting a deadline from the US Department of Justice.
Washington considers RT a propaganda arm of the Kremlinand told it to register its American operation under theForeign Agents Registration Act aimed at lobbyists and lawyersrepresenting foreign political interests.
The Moscow-based broadcaster has become a focus of theinvestigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016US presidential election. (AFP)SMJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.