Citing coronavirus concerns, Russia's State Duma bars all foreign journalists

Russia’s State Duma is no longer admitting members of the foreign press, according to BBC Moscow correspondent Pyotr Kozlov, whose camera crew was denied permission to report from the Russian Parliament’s lower house on Thursday, March 19. “This is a temporary measure due to the unusual situation,” a spokesperson for the State Duma told Kozlov, referring to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Russian journalists will still be permitted to report from the State Duma building. Journalists from foreign media outlets have been told they can follow lawmakers’ activities by watching the Duma’s online live stream.