By fall a string of Russia-based publications and broadcasting companies could be classified as "mass media outlets acting in the interests of foreign governments."

United Russia deputies are throwing their weight behind a plan to make mass media outlets that receive foreign financing subject to special checks, a news report said Monday.

If the plan comes to fruition, by fall a string of Russia-based publications and broadcasting companies could be classified as "mass media outlets acting in the interests of foreign governments," Izvestia reported.

Lawmakers from the ruling party stressed that amending the law on mass media is essential as many publications influence politics by spreading foreign propaganda.

"I think that the story with foreign agents isn't over. Many media receive financing from abroad and act as a mouthpiece for a foreign government," United Russia Deputy Ilya Kostunov told Izvestia.

"For the law on mass media, it is necessary to spell out the concept of 'foreign agents' separately, only in a more detailed manner than for the law on nongovernmental organizations," Kostunov said.

Kostunov, formerly director of the controversial Seliger youth camp, is known for taking a hard line on Kremlin opponents.

In May, Kostunov requested the Federal Security Service and Financial Monitoring Service run checks on anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny's Yandex.Money accounts for evidence of money laundering.

Opposition deputies saw United Russia's plans to target critical media outlets as a logical step after the authorities tightened the screws on NGOs and raised the maximum penalty for defamation to 5 million rubles ($154,000) on the final day of the Duma's spring session Friday.

"The logic of this bill is completely clear to me. It's all leading to a clampdown. In my opinion, this is not a far-sighted decision by the authorities," Ilya Ponomaryov, a Duma deputy with the social-democratic Just Russia party, told Izvestia.

"Our people are cunning and will find a way to get around the law," Ponomaryov said.

Keywords: Russia, Media, Internet - Russian News - Russia

By fall a string of Russia-based publications and broadcasting companies could be classified as "mass media outlets acting in the interests of foreign governments."

United Russia deputies are throwing their weight behind a plan to make mass media outlets that receive foreign financing subject to special checks, a news report said Monday.

If the plan comes to fruition, by fall a string of Russia-based publications and broadcasting companies could be classified as "mass media outlets acting in the interests of foreign governments," Izvestia reported.

Lawmakers from the ruling party stressed that amending the law on mass media is essential as many publications influence politics by spreading foreign propaganda.

"I think that the story with foreign agents isn't over. Many media receive financing from abroad and act as a mouthpiece for a foreign government," United Russia Deputy Ilya Kostunov told Izvestia.

"For the law on mass media, it is necessary to spell out the concept of 'foreign agents' separately, only in a more detailed manner than for the law on nongovernmental organizations," Kostunov said.

Kostunov, formerly director of the controversial Seliger youth camp, is known for taking a hard line on Kremlin opponents.

In May, Kostunov requested the Federal Security Service and Financial Monitoring Service run checks on anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny's Yandex.Money accounts for evidence of money laundering.

Opposition deputies saw United Russia's plans to target critical media outlets as a logical step after the authorities tightened the screws on NGOs and raised the maximum penalty for defamation to 5 million rubles ($154,000) on the final day of the Duma's spring session Friday.

"The logic of this bill is completely clear to me. It's all leading to a clampdown. In my opinion, this is not a far-sighted decision by the authorities," Ilya Ponomaryov, a Duma deputy with the social-democratic Just Russia party, told Izvestia.

"Our people are cunning and will find a way to get around the law," Ponomaryov said.