The Russian State Duma banned entry to representatives of Radio Liberty and Voice of America

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The State Duma has banned journalists from Voice of America and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, as well as other media recognized as “foreign agents,” from visiting the lower house of the Russian parliament, reports “Voice of America".

The decision of the legislators was another mutual injection of Russia and the United States related to the work of the media, funded by the governments of these countries.

"The State Duma considers unacceptable any encroachment on fundamental human rights and freedoms - freedom of speech and the right to receive and disseminate information," the draft resolution said.

US reaction

Heather Neuert commented on the amendments to the previously adopted law signed by the President of the Russian Federation:

“We believe that this is a wrong decision,” this is how a spokeswoman for the US State Department responded to a journalist’s question regarding the Russian State Duma’s decision to revoke the accreditation of journalists from the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

“One of the things that we often talk about a lot in these walls is the importance of freedom of speech. This includes information that other governments may find inconvenient. This applies both to our allies and partners, and to countries with which we have tense relations. ”

Heather Neuert also added that the law on media in Russia can be applied, as well as the law on NGOs. “We are concerned that they [the authorities of Russia -“ GA ”] may eventually persecute journalists, detain them and expel them from the country. This is what we, as Americans, consider fundamentally wrong. We believe in the right to freedom of speech, and we have serious concerns about Russia's actions in the matter of restricting the freedom of journalists.

A day earlier the Ministry of Justice contributed Voice of America, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, as well as their regional projects to the list of "foreign agents."

A similar ban on visiting the chamber was introduced on Tuesday by the Federation Council.

The dispute over the media began in November, when Kremlin-funded RT TV company was registered the US Department of Justice as a foreign agent after the relevant requirement of Washington.

In response, Russia passed a law allowing the government to assign the status of a “foreign agent” to foreign media.

After the American Committee last week, which controls the access of radio and television journalists to Congress, revoked RT accreditation, the Russian parliament has promised to respond.

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