Duma commission prepares new amendments to foreign agents law

MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - Legislators are preparing new amendments to Russian legislation regulating activities of individuals and entities designated as foreign agents, Vasily Piskaryov, head of the State Duma commission investigating foreign interference, said on Tuesday.

One of the amendments proposes that the law governing the activities of individuals under foreign influence ban foreign agents from receiving government support in the form of property. Currently, foreign agents are only barred from getting financial support from the state, Piskaryov told journalists.

The amendments also propose that the Justice Ministry monitor observance of the foreign agents legislation. The Justice Ministry currently only monitors foreign agents' activities.

"So when it receives information that someone's actions or inaction is contributing to a violation of Russian law by a foreign agent, the Justice Ministry can issue a warning indicating the violation committed, and a deadline by which it must be corrected, which cannot be less than one month," Piskaryov said.

The amendments also add a clause to the Code of Administrative Offences setting fines for failing to meet the Justice Ministry's deadline to correct violations. In particular, individuals may face a fine of up to 50,000 rubles, officials up to 100,000 rubles, and legal entities up to 300,000 rubles.

The amendments will help eliminate "any loopholes and gaps enabling those under foreign influence to try to circumvent our laws," Piskaryov said.

The commission will consider the amendments on Tuesday, he said.