Moscow to Make Legally 'Perfect' Response to US Actions Against Russian Media

The pressure on Russian media outlets operating in the US grows amid allegations of interfering in the internal affairs of the country, resulting in RT America being registered as a foreign agent last week. Now Russian officials are considering possible reciprocal measures.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights' chairman Mikhail Fedotov the relevant document would be submitted to the presidential administration and the parliament's upper house. He stated that the draft law on foreign agent media operations in Russia should be aimed to exclude any weak points in Russia's response to the US actions against the RT broadcaster.

"We have no doubts about the necessity of the retaliatory measures, but they should be legally sound. Our expert opinion is aimed exactly at making the Russian response perfect from the legal point of view," Fedotov said.

READ MORE: Russian Upper House to Start Work on ‘Black Book’ of Foreign Meddling Cases — MP

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Russian State Duma responded by unanimously passing a bill that could compel foreign-funded media agencies to register as foreign agents. The Russian Justice Ministry will decide which particular media outlets will be targeted.

On November 13, RT America registered as a foreign agent in the United States per the DOJ's demand. RT and Sputnik news agency have experienced pressure in the United States over the past few months, with US lawmakers and intelligence community claiming the broadcaster may have been involved in Russia’s alleged attempts to influence both US public opinion and the 2016 presidential election. However, both media outlets, as well as Russian authorities have repeatedly refuted these allegations.