Russia lists media of possible "foreign agent" status

The Russian Justice Ministry on Thursday confirmed that it had sent out letters to a number of foreign media outlets operating in Russia, notifying them of possible recognition of their identity as foreign agents.

"On Nov. 15-16, 2017, the Russian Justice Ministry sent letters about possible recognition as foreign agents to the Voice of America, Caucasus Reality, Crimea Reality, Siberia Reality, the Idel Reality regional project, the Current Time TV channel, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Liberty's Tatar-Bashkir service and the Factograph project," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

On Wednesday, the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, approved a bill vesting the government with the power to label foreign-funded media outlets as "foreign agents".

According to the Justice Ministry, the bill is likely to enter into force "in the near future".

It was seen as a quick response to the latest development of Russian media's situation in the United States. On Monday, RT America registered as a foreign agent in the United States at the demand of the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), following months of controversy.

Washington has been accusing Russian media, including RT and Sputnik, of influencing public opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, while Moscow claims that they are being oppressed by U.S. authorities.

Russian parliament members called the newly passed bill "an exceptional measure which mirrors the U.S. legislation on foreign agents."

The bill is expected to get endorsed by the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, and then signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin.