The ministry has warned a number of US mass media
of possible extension of the list of foreign agents as a response to possible
listing of Russia’s RT and Sputnik as foreign agents.
MOSCOW,
October 9. /TASS/. Russia’s justice ministry said on Monday it will continue to
use the principle of tit-for-tat measures in respect of US mass media depending
on US’ measures against Russian media.
"On
October 9, a letter was sent to a number of US media operating in Russia
warning of inadmissibility of violating Russian laws," the ministry told
TASS. "The Russian law on the mass media provides for a possibility of
imposing restrictions on journalists from those states that have special
restrictions on professional activities of journalists working with mass media
registered in Russia."
The ministry described the letter as a "tit-for-tat measure to persecution of Russian mass media in the United States. The ministry warned that other restrictions envisaged by Russian laws may be imposed of such mass media.
"The
principle of tit-for-tat measures will be used further on depending on measures
imposed on Russian mass media in the United States," the ministry stressed.
"The
ministry of justice today sent to a number of US media, including BBG-
(Broadcasting Board of Governors) controlled Voice of America, Radio Liberty,
internet projects Nastoyashchee Vremya, Faktopgraf, Krym.realii, Radio Liberty
in the Tatar language. Kavkaz.realii and Idel.realii, an official letter
notifying of the forthcoming amendments to the Russian laws concerning the
extension of the list of non-government organizations that could be recognized
as foreign agents," the source said.
According to the source, these steps would be applicable only to US mass media "and this is only a response measure to possible listing RT as a foreign agent in the United States."
Possible
response measures may range from quantitative restrictions to denial of accreditation
with the Russian foreign ministry. Apart from that, the ministry may initiate
inspections to check observance of Russian labor and tax law by US media
(offices, payment of taxes, financing, labor contracts with the personnel,
including free-lancers) with subsequent public disclosure.
"The
prosecutor general’s office now has all the authority to list a number of US
mass media caught in interfering into Russia’s domestic affairs as
unwanted organizations in Russia," the source said, adding that it is
planned to amend the law on foreign agents to extend the list of organizations
covered by this law to include mass media and individuals sponsored from
abroad.
"Once
these amendments are made to the Russian legislation, US media will be advised
to register as foreign agents with all the consequences that come with
it," the source stressed.
Countermeasures
A
source in the Russian government said earlier on Monday Russia’s ministry of
justice had sent to a number of US media, including BBG- (Broadcasting Board of
Governors) controlled Voice of America, Radio Liberty, internet projects
Nastoyashchee Vremya, Faktopgraf, Krym.realii, Radio Liberty in the Tatar
language. Kavkaz.realii and Idel.realii, an official letter notifying of the
forthcoming amendments to the Russian laws concerning the extension of the list
of non-government organizations that could be recognized as foreign agents.
According
to the source, these steps would be applicable only to US mass media "and this
is only a response measure to possible listing RT as a foreign agent in the
United States."
Possible
response measures may range from quantitative restrictions to denial of
accreditation with the Russian foreign ministry. Apart from that, the ministry
may initiate inspections to check observance of Russian labor and tax law by US
media (offices, payment of taxes, financing, labor contracts with the
personnel, including free-lancers) with subsequent public disclosure.
The
prosecutor general’s office now has all the authority to list a number of US
mass media caught in interfering into Russia’s domestic affairs as unwanted
organizations in Russia," the source said.
Amendments to law
According
to the source, it is planned to amend the law on foreign agents to extend the
list of organizations covered by this law to include mass media and individuals
sponsored from abroad. So, once these amendments are made to the Russian
legislation, US media will be advised to register as foreign agents with all
the consequences that come with it.
Source:
ITAR-TASS 10-10-2017
