Washington Urges Russia Not to Use New Legislation Concerning Foreign Media

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States calls on Russia not to apply the newly adopted law concerning foreign media, the US Department of State said in a press release.

"The United States urges the Russian government not to use this legislation to further restrict the operation of media outlets or freedom of expression," the release said on Tuesday.

The release said Russia's claim the new media legislation is a reaction to the 1938 Foreign Agents Registration Act in the United States is "disingenuous and inappropriate."

Earlier, president Vladimir Putin signed the law on the introduction of amendments regarding the foreign agent status for foreign media outlets funded from abroad to the article six of the 1991 legislation on media. This measure comes as a response to the pressure exerted on Russia media in the United States, in particular, the demand for RT America broadcaster to register as a foreign agent. RT America and Reston Translator, a partner company of Sputnik Radio, had to register themselves as foreign agents under FARA.

Over the past few months, US lawmakers and intelligence community have been putting pressure on RT America and Sputnik Radio, claiming that the broadcaster may have been involved in Russia’s alleged attempts to influence US 2016 presidential election.