Russian Parliament Approves Restrictions on Foreign Media

On Wednesday, December 1, the Russian parliament passed a bill that designates foreign media in the country as 'foreign agents.' According to the German news agency, this resolution will become law after being signed by Vladimir Putin, requiring American media outlets, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, operating in Russia to register as 'foreign agents.' The report states that the bill was approved by more than 90 percent of parliamentary representatives. Last week, this bill was also approved by the State Duma (lower house of parliament) in Russia. Previously, the United States had designated the Russian network RT as a foreign agent, and according to the German news agency, Moscow has retaliated with today's resolution. RT confirmed that it registered as a 'foreign agent' in the U.S. this month. Current and former U.S. security officials accuse RT of attempting to highlight anti-Hillary Clinton news, thereby influencing the U.S. elections. These officials believe the Russian government was behind the hacking of the Democratic Party's emails, which they claim were published on WikiLeaks to undermine Hillary Clinton in last year's presidential election. However, Russia has denied these allegations. Earlier, Russia had also subjected NGOs receiving foreign assistance to similar legislation, and now with the implementation of this law, foreign and American media must report details about their employees, financial status, and activities to the responsible Russian authorities. The Russian Ministry of Justice has informed Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that they may be required to register as 'foreign agents.' John Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, expressed regret over the passage of this bill in parliament, stating to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, 'The actions taken could significantly weaken the voice of media in the lives of Russians; a voice that is vital for any open and democratic society.' The ambassador added, 'We will continue to encourage and support free media and freedom of expression. These are values we cherish.' The Russian news agency Itar-Tass emphasized that this law is a response to the U.S. Justice Department's designation of RT as a 'foreign agent.' Meanwhile, freedom of expression advocates, including Amnesty International, have assessed Russia's recent decision as a serious blow to media freedom. Critics accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to silence dissenting voices by controlling media and NGOs. During the protests of 2011, Putin had identified then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign money as factors in the unrest, an accusation that the U.S. denies.