Russia's federal censor has drafted a procedure allowing it to revoke the print distribution rights of foreign media outlets

Russia’s federal media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has drafted a procedure for revoking foreign periodicals’ permission to distribute print editions in Russia. The agency’s power to revoke this permission would take effect on January 1, 2018. It’s unclear if affected media outlets would be allowed to reapply for their print distribution permits.

According to the initiative, Roskomnadzor would be able to revoke the print distribution rights of foreign media outlets for three reasons: (1) if the publication provides inaccurate information when registering as a media outlet; (2) if another publication by the same name is already registered in Russia; and (3) if the publication violates Russian counter-extremism laws or “abuses” Russia’s free press laws by sharing state secrets, incitements to terrorism, pornography, obscenities, “hidden insertions” in published texts, instructions for the manufacture of drugs or explosives, personal information about underage criminal victims, or information about the illegal sale of alcohol.

On November 25, President Putin signed legislation empowering the Justice Ministry to recognize certain foreign media outlets as “foreign agents.” Publications added to the list are required to report quarterly to the Justice Ministry and label their content as the work of a foreign agent.