State duma considers bill to limit foreign shares in Russian media

Russia’s State Duma is considering a bill to limit foreign shareholding in media outlets in Russia to 20% and ban foreigners from founding Russian media organisations.

Vladimir Parakhin of the Fair Russia party, one of the architects of the law, told Izvestia that the bill would satisfy the need to protect Russia’s media landscape. He said: “If we are talking about a higher percentage, like 25% for example, then this is actually a blocking stake which would allow you to significantly influence the information policy of any publication. We have seen examples of this with the events in Ukraine, which have been presented in ways not entirely accurate by the Russian press.”

Under current legislation, foreign shareholders can own up to 50% of a radio or TV station in Russia, with unlimited foreign shareholding in print media. If approved, publications including Vedomosti and The Moscow Times — both of which are owned by Nordic media holding Sanoma — would be affected.

The bill, which was put forward by representatives from the Fair Russia, Communist and Liberal Democratic parties, would be implemented on 1 January 2016 if approved, with media owners given until 1 February 2017 to bring their corporations in line with the law. After that, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media watchdog, will have the power to suspend the activities of media outlets who violate it.

Vadim Dengin, from Russia’s right-wing Liberal Democratic Party, told Izvestia: “Those who own information own the world. It is clear that if foreigners enter the media market of any country, they practically gain access to the minds of the people, to the formation of public opinion. And here we must clearly demarcate for people who buy media organisations — are you here to do business or to bring your policies and change the situation in the country?”

In a media landscape already suffering from a government crackdown in recent months, the bill, if approved, would be a death sentence for many leading independent news portals in Russia. Following the start of the Ukraine crisis earlier this year, the Kremlin’s efforts to control the media have markedly intensified, with unexpected firings, mass resignations and the sudden withdrawal of funding threatening the survival of Russia’s independent media.

See also:

A guide to the troubled world of independent journalism

Russian businessman opens fund to support independent media

Olympic gymnast-turned-lawmaker to head pro-Kremlin media holding

Mass media law for bloggers comes into effect