Interfax: The Ministry of Justice warned Voice of America about possible inclusion in the list of “foreign agents”

The Ministry of Justice sent the Voice of America radio station a notice of the adopted amendments on “foreign agents” to the law on media and notified that they could be extended to the radio station, an informed source in the department told Interfax.

The letter sent to the management of the radio station notes that “since the activities of the Voice of America show signs of performing the functions of a foreign agent, the restrictions provided for by Russian legislation may be extended to it,” the publication’s interlocutor said.

On November 15, State Duma deputies adopted in the third reading amendments to the law “On the Mass Media,” allowing foreign media to be granted the status of “foreign agent.” All 414 deputies who took part in the voting voted for the adoption of the draft law.

The document adopted by the deputies gives the Ministry of Justice the right to classify as “foreign agents” a “legal entity registered in a foreign state, or a foreign structure without forming a legal entity” if they distribute information materials “to an unlimited number of persons.” Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy assured that Russian media, “even with foreign funding,” will not be affected by the law.

The State Duma said that CNN , Deutsche Welle , Voice of America and Radio Liberty could be recognized as “foreign agents.”