Last month, the United States government required RT and Sputnik to register as a foreign agent. It was a terrible decision by Washington, and many agreed that it would lead to further strained relations with Russia.
Liberty Nation has the story:
In 1938, the United States government passed a law called the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The bill required that all agents representing a foreign entity in a political or semi-political capacity disclose this relation with the U.S. government. It was designed to counter infiltrations by Nazi Germany.
Nearly 30 years later, it was revised to only include foreign agents working for foreign powers to seek a political gain or economic advantage by impacting U.S. policy. Earlier this year, Democrats and Republicans tried to expand FARA, but the proposal has yet to reach the House or Senate for a vote.
In September, the Justice Department made the decision to enact FARA.
The Justice Department demanded that a company supplying equipment and services to RT America in the U.S. register under FARA. If the firm failed to abide by the request, then their assets would be frozen. With no other alternative, the business complied and registered as a foreign agent.
Well, the DOJ did it again, requesting that RT sign up as a foreign agent or face legal action. Despite earlier hints that it would go to court over discrimination, RT followed in its supplier’s footsteps: register as a foreign agent to avoid fighting the federal government.
The logical response for Russia? Ban U.S. media.
Moscow announced that the Russian Parliament will restrict access to American reporters. This is expected to go into full effect next week as the Upper Chamber has come out in support of the initiative.
“By our decision we are offering this move for the consideration of the State Duma Council and plenary session. We are expressing our attitude to the inadmissibility of attacks on democratic values, freedom of speech and the right to receive objective information,” Olga Savastyanova told RIA Novosti on Friday.
Foreign correspondents covering Russian politics will likely see their press credentials and access minimized or taken away.
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