MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. The State Duma lower house of parliament passed a bill in the first reading Tuesday on a tit-for-tat response to countries, discriminating against or banning Russian media.
The draft law would delegate authority to the prosecutor general and his deputies to ban media of a country that had imposed restrictions or prohibited Russian media on its territory. They would also receive the right to withdraw registration and licenses from foreign media for disseminating illegal information, like reports, "showing disrespect to Russia’s public, government, and Constitution," and discrediting its Armed Forces.
Lawmakers are also discussing adding a provision to the Law on Information to enable authorities to limit access to information resources that repeatedly spread "banned or illegal information."
The draft law also proposes amendments to the Law on Mass Media, restricting requirements for news resources and expanding the prosecutor general’s related authority.