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RIA Novosti
The state Duma adopted in the third reading of a government bill, which prohibits to be founders or editors of mass media to citizens convicted of crimes with the use of mass media or the Internet or for crimes related to extremism.
In particular, it is established that “there can not be a founder of mass media, and also cannot be the chief editor of the citizen, who is serving a sentence in places of imprisonment or having a criminal record for crimes committed using mass media or the Internet or for crimes related to extremist activities, as well as a citizen under 18 years of age or recognized incapable by court”.
In addition, the detailed procedure of registration of mass media: it will be considered registered from the date of acceptance by registering body of the decision and of the relevant entry in the register. Registered agencies will be required to ensure that any such record in the register the date of the decision.
The change of the founder, change of structure of founders, names, language, the approximate topics or specialization of the media, the territory of distribution of its products, the domain name of the website on the Internet, as well as the shape or form of periodic distribution of mass information will be allowed only if appropriate changes in the record of registration of mass media.
As explained TASS a member of the Duma Committee on information policy, information technologies and communications Anton Gorelkin, the new document “does not affect the main provisions of the law on mass media, and contains only a long-overdue refinement, inspired by time”.
“We finally forget about this relic of the stone age-like paper called “certificate of registration of mass media”. Instead, it is now an electronic extract from the register. And no more fees for re-registration”, – said the MP.
Also, said Gorelkin, the law stipulates that “foreign media now will also have to pay the filing fee [for the permit for distribution of approx. TASS] how is it paid for Russian media.” “We call here the situation, why they need to be a special order?” – it asked a question.
In case of approval of the law by the Federation Council and signing by the President of the Russian Federation new rules should be in force on 1 January 2018.