Russia Responds to US Anti-Media Freedom Action Against RT

Forcing RT America to register as a foreign agent aimed to undermine its viability, a possible first step toward shutting it down altogether - part of longstanding US Russia bashing, perhaps heading for something much more serious. On Wednesday, Russia’s lower house State Duma unanimously passed legislation, defining affected media operations as legal entities “registered in a foreign nation, or a foreign structure that operates without registering as a company, engaged in spreading printed, audio, audio-visual or any other content prepared for an unlimited group of people.”

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They may be designated as foreign agents if funded from abroad by governments, international organizations, foreign citizens, or anyone else acting on their behalf.

[su_section background="#eae9e8" border="11px solid #6c81b1" text_shadow="0px 1px 10px #ffffff"]Editor's Note: Although necessary in view of Washington's malicious arrogance and hypocrisy, the Russian countermeasures, designed scrupulously to mirror the American new policy (cynically only applying to Russian media), are not likely to level the playing field, nor—overall as far the world prospects for peace are concerned—improve the situation significantly. This is because the Russian media are these days far more truthful and serious about reporting world events than their Western counterparts, and because the Russian population is much more sophisticated politically and better informed than Americans, and completely opposed to war and warmongering. Russians, by and large, understand perfectly well the nuclear Damoclean sword hovering over their heads as a result of criminal US provocations and demonisation campaigns against Russia, China and other nations not submitting to Washington's diktats. In that sense the US media to be banned in Russian soil (some of these, like VOA, etc, should have never been permitted to set up shop to begin with) is no loss to the Russian public, as it added nothing to understanding reality, their mission being unadulterated propaganda on behalf of Washington's imperial agenda. In the US, and the West, however, the curtailment and eventual elimination of channels such as RT will deprive the American public of a desperately needed source of more reliable news and commentary about world events, thereby accelerating the slide toward war and the destruction of what remains of American democracy. As for the repugnant pro-imperial role played by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, etc., this is to be expected as these liberaloid "human rights" groups have been largely integrated into the gargantuan US machinery of hybrid warfare , serving loyally as "non-state" propaganda pegs for Washington's global disinformation efforts.—PG[/su_section]

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State Duma legislation will become law after passage by the upper house Federal Council, expected in days, then signed by Vladimir Putin. Russia’s Justice Ministry is authorized to decide which media warrant designation as foreign agents. They’ll be subject to the same restrictions imposed on RT.

They include regularly declaring full details on their funding, finances and personnel. Earlier this year, the State Duma launched an investigation into whether CNN International, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other US media complied with Russian law.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “(a)ny encroachment on the freedom of Russian media abroad is not and won’t be left without a strong condemnation and a tit-for-tat response from Moscow.”  Media operations failing to register as foreign agents, if ordered, will be treated like NGO lawbreakers, facing fines and possibly shutting them down.

Russia’s 2012 Foreign Agents Law requires NGOs engaged in political activities to register as foreign agents or face stiff fines. They’re prohibited from supporting political parties, free to engage in other activities.

In 2014, the law was expanded, making it illegal for Russian political parties to have dealings with NGOs designated as foreign agents. Subsequent legislation exempted charities receiving funding from abroad from registering as foreign agents. Deputy Duma Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy called the new measure “a forced decision that would not affect the freedom of speech in any way,” adding:

“We are talking about an opportunity for the executive-power bodies to take mirror measures against countries that are infringing upon Russian journalists’ freedom of action and expression.”

State Duma information committee head Leonid Levin expects the new law, when enacted, to be used swiftly against US media organizations - ones in other countries if they pursue “unfriendly actions.”

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia hasn’t ruled out expelling US media or correspondents - promising a “surprise” when retaliatory action against America is announced.

Amnesty International blasted Russian legislation in a one-sided statement, saying nothing about Washington forcing RT America to register as a foreign agent - a major body blow to its credibility, along with numerous other disturbing actions.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html