Russia’s Justice Ministry on Tuesday named nine U.S. media outlets, including Voice of America, as “foreign agents” after President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing international media to be slapped with the controversial label.
The Ministry said that U.S.-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and seven of their media affiliates had been recognised as “carrying out the functions of a foreign agent”, in a statement posted on its website. Mr. Putin last month signed into law hastily issued legislation allowing the measure to target media. Russia said this was a retaliatory move after Kremlin-funded RT television registered as a “foreign agent” in the U.S. under official pressure.
The 2012 law previously applied only to NGOs that had international funding.
Those branded “foreign agents” have to present themselves as such on all paperwork and submit to intensive scrutiny of their staffing and financing.
