Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Senators Threaten Foreign Media Clampdown

The Russian parliament is considering new legislation which could see tens of foreign Russian-language media outlets banned from operating within the country. 

Russia's Federation Council, the upper chamber of the country's parliament, is debating new laws which would force Russian-language outlets to disclose how they are funded. Media companies receiving money from abroad would be forced to register as "foreign agents," opening them up to increased state scrutiny. 

Andrei Klimov, head of the council’s committee for the protection of state sovereignty, said that the proposed bill would apply to all foreign outlets broadcasting in Russian, even if they were registered abroad.

Outlets which fail to register as foreign agents would then face closure, Klimov said.

The Kremlin has so far played down the proposals, with Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling reporters that the bill still required “significant elaboration.”

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more