Media outlets required to use info from official Russian sources in covering special operation in Donbas - Roskomnadzor

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has warned media outlets they are required to use information exclusively from official Russian sources while covering the special operation in eastern Ukraine.

"Roskomnadzor informs media outlets and information resources that they are required to use information received exclusively from official Russian sources in their materials and reports covering the special operation in the Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics," the agency said.

Roskomnadzor noted that the publishing of knowingly false information will be penalized with an administrative fine of up to 5 million rubles consistent with Article 13.15 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses.

"The number of unverified and untrue reports published by media outlets and other online information resources has grown considerably in recent hours," it said.

Article 49 of the Law on Mass Media requires media outlets to verify the credibility of any information before publishing (airing) their materials, the agency said.

"Online dissemination of false information leads to the immediate blocking of such materials by Roskomnadzor consistent with Article 15.3 of Federal Law No. 149-FZ: On Information, Information Technologies, and Protection of Information," it said.

"Please be advised that official Russian sources are the ones that disseminate current credible information," Roskomnadzor said.