State Duma speaker backs idea of limiting foreign stockholders' share in Russian media
MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax) - Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin believes that proposals to restrict foreign stockholders' share in Russian media companies are in line with international standards.
"It is international, routine practice when national legislation protects the domestic market, and international standards here range from 20% to 49%. The goal is clear - to protect national sovereignty," he told reporters on Thursday.
Russian MPs Vadim Dengin (the Liberal Democratic Party), Vladimir Parakhin (A Just Russia) and Denis Voronenkov (the Communist Party of Russia) have suggested that foreign shareholders should not be allowed to control more than 20% of Russian companies that own media outlets. An appropriate bill has already been submitted to the State Duma.
