Russian lawmakers mull blocking foreign media broadcasts 

Russian lawmakers are considering ways to block foreign media broadcasts in Russian if they break the law. The proposal is a tit-for-tat response to a bill introduced to the US Congress in March that would give the Justice Department authority to investigate Russia’s English-language RT for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. RT figured in a US intelligence report about Russian meddling in the US presidential election.

Andrei Klimov, the head of a newly created panel of the upper house of the Russian parliament, said Wednesday it is pondering ways to oblige foreign media broadcasting in Russian to account for their activities in line with a Russian law on foreign agents.

Klimov added new legislation could authorize Russia’s communications watchdog to block broadcasts if they violate the law.