13 Nov 2017 15:43

State Duma regards Internet as delivery means, not preparing restrictions on it in response to U.S. actions - State Duma Deputy Speaker Tolstoy to Interfax

MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - The State Duma is not drafting separate restrictions on the Internet in the context of its mirrored response to U.S. measures on the Russian media, State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said.

"We are currently only considering the issue with relation to foreign media. As for the Internet, we see it as a means of delivery. That is, for example, if a foreign media organization has a website here, they will also be required to put an appropriate mark on it," Tolstoy told Interfax on Monday.

"No separate ideas are being considered for the Internet," Tolstoy said.

He said that Russian lawmakers intend to give bodies of executive authority grounds for recognizing a media organization as a foreign agent by analogy to the law on NGOs, he said.

Tolstoy said he does not know if an additional working group or a commission will be created to draft amendments governing the work of media organizations that are foreign agents on the Internet.

"I don't know that; such decisions are made by the State Duma speaker. If he makes such a decision, I will fulfil it, but I am not prepared to initiate it," Tolstoy said.

A source in the parliament spoke earlier about the possibility of a working group led by Tolstoy being created in the State Duma to draft amendments on the enforcement of the law on the Internet.