MOSCOW, September 23. /ITAR-TASS/. The decision to restrict the share of foreign participation in Russian mass media remains a great public controversy in Russia. Many support the legislators’ initiative because they see it as a measure to maintain Russia’s information security in the context of confrontation with the West. Others fear that it will ruin the media market altogether, because the restrictions imposed will affect more than half of Russian mass media.
The share of other countries, international organizations, foreign companies and foreigners and Russian citizens having the citizenship of another country in the charter capital of any Russian mass media as of January 1, 2016 will be restricted to 20%, as follows from a bill the State Duma has just adopted in the first reading. Currently, the foreign co-ownership of a mass medium shall not exceed 50%. This rule is effective for TV channels and radio stations, which broadcast to a territory accounting at least for half of Russia’s population, and also for dailies and magazines issued in one million copies or more.
The amendments to the law on mass media were proposed by deputies from three parliamentary factions - the Communists, A Just Russia and the Liberal Democrats and supported by the United Russia faction. The authors argue it is essential to ensure Russia’s information security in the context of confrontation with the West and media wars. Also they recall that many other countries live by the same rules, too. They hope that the amendments will allow for de-offshorization the Russian mass media and bring into the limelight the end beneficiary and client who ordered this or that publication.