Putin approves law that labels journalists, bloggers as foreign agents

Russia says it wants the law as a tit-for-tat mechanism if its journalists are defined as foreign agents in the West.

Business Standard : Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law allowing independent journalists and bloggers to be labelled as "foreign agents", a move that critics say will violate media freedom.

Russian legislation passed in 2012 already gave authorities the power to brand media organisations and NGOs as foreign agents, a term that has Soviet-era overtones.

The new law, which now extends to individuals, will come into effect immediately, according to a document published on the Russian government website.

Foreign agents, defined as involved in politics and receiving money from abroad, must register with the justice ministry, label publications with the tag and submit detailed paperwork or face fines.

Nine human rights NGOs, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, have expressed concern that the amendments may be aimed not only at journalists, but also at bloggers and internet users who benefit from scholarships, funding or revenues from a relevant media outlet.

NGOs said in a joint statement last month the law was "a further step to restrict free and independent media" and "a strong tool to silence opposition voices".

Authors of the bill have said it is intended to "perfect" existing legislation on "foreign agents" that already covers NGOs and media organisations.

Russia says it wants the law as a tit-for-tat mechanism if its journalists are defined as foreign agents in the West.

Russia first passed legislation allowing media organisations to be slapped with the label in 2017, after Kremlin-funded RT television was declared a foreign agent in the United States.

Russian opposition politician Alexi Navalny's organisation has been branded a foreign agent, as has US-financed media outlet Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.

The term foreign agent was used negatively during the Stalinist era in the 1970s and 1980s for opponents accused of being paid by the West.

PM Modi in Russia: After Xi, PM heads for informal talks with Putin; updates

Modi and Putin will hold an informal meeting today in Russia's Sochi where the two leaders will discuss pressing global issues and Indo-Russia defence ties. Catch all the live updates here.

Prime Minister  Narendra Modi on Monday left for Russia's Sochi for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. When the two leaders meet, some of the US' moves might form the crust of their discussion.

Modi and Putin will primarily focus on pressing global issues, including the possible repercussions of US sanctions against Russia under the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on Indo-Russia defence cooperation and the impact of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

The CAATSA is of significant importance for Indo-Russia defence ties as India plans to purchase five S-400 Triumf air defence systems for around $4.5 billion from Moscow.

The US on Friday warned that its friends and allies, including India, should consider CAATSA before making any significant purchase of military equipment from Moscow.

"I'm hoping that not just India, but all of the partners that we engage with will understand that we will have to evaluate any potential large defence purchase from Russia seriously because that's what the law demands of us," US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tina Kaidanow said.

India has, however, asserted that it will not allow any third country to dictate its ties with Russia.

Upon arrival, Modi will be received by local dignitaries at the airport. He is then scheduled to visit the residence resort of President Putin.

This is Modi's second informal summit in as many months as he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jingpin in China's Wuhan in a similar format last month.

Sources told news agencies that there could be more such informal summits between Modi and other world leaders in the coming months as India eyes to play an important role in global power dynamics.

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