Thread: Russia Declares Independent News Site Meduza a Foreign Agent

Russia has declared the leading independent news website Meduza a “foreign agent,” the Justice Ministry announced Friday amid what critics call the Kremlin’s continuing crackdown on free speech.


A statement on the ministry’s website said the decision, which also includes the Moscow-based Pasmi (“First Anti-Corruption Media”) news site, was made “in compliance with the requirements of Russian law.”




Meduza began publishing out of Latvia in 2014 after its then-chief editor Galina Timchenko fell foul of the authorities and was forced out of Russia.Timchenko’s exile was seen in the West and by the Russian opposition as a blow to independent media, with stridently nationalist state-run outlets stepping up what was widely seen as an information war over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.


Russia’s 2012 foreign agent law initially targeted media outlets and civil society groups. It has in recent years been expanded to include individual journalists and any foreign-funded persons or entities.


Individuals and groups labeled as foreign agents are required to report their activities and face heavy financial audits. Other media outlets are also required to clearly label the designated entities as “foreign agents.”


Another “foreign agent,” the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty news website, is facing $33 million in fines for violating Russia’s foreign agent labeling requirements.


Meduza’s “foreign agent” designation comes ahead of parliamentary elections this fall in which the ruling pro-Kremlin party is seeking to maintain its supermajority.


Russian lawmakers are also considering legislation banning foreign agents from running for federal office.


Meduza said on its website that it plans to appeal its inclusion in the list of 19 “foreign agents.”


Russia Declares Independent News Site Meduza a ‘Foreign Agent’ - The Moscow Times

Tried to open Meduza’s English site but got a page I couldn’t read.

Can't have anyone exposing the truth about the murderous dictator in the run up to an election, now can we?

https://meduza.io/en

Originally Posted by misskit

I couldn’t read.

Try this

https://meduza.io/en


Not an English teacher, but it appears to be English words.

This is what I get on that link.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Can't have anyone exposing the truth about the murderous dictator in the run up to an election, now can we?

So, are they "Foreign Agent" or are they not? (That's the OP about...)

Originally Posted by misskit

This is what I get on that link.

Something like:
OOPS, small problem occurred. We are checking, and you can go over to the main page...

(you are welcome Ms.Kit)

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a United States law passed in 1938 requiring that agents representing the interests of foreign powers in a "political or quasi-political capacity" disclose their relationship with the foreign government and information about related activities and finances. The purpose is to facilitate "evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons."


.... Scope[edit]

The Act requires periodic disclosure of all activities and finances by:

• people and organizations that are under control of
  
  • a foreign government, or
  • of organizations or of persons outside of the United States ("foreign principal"),
  
  
• if they act "at the order, request, or under the direction or control" (i.e. as "agents")
  
  • of this principal or
  • of persons who are "controlled or subsidized in major part" by this principal.^[
  
  

• On November 13, 2017, RT America officially registered as a foreign agent and will be required to disclose financial information.^[33]
• The U.S. Justice Department in 2018 ordered the Chinese state-run China Global Television Network to register as a foreign agent.^[34]

<sup>Foreign Agents Registration Act - Wikipedia


More, erm, Whataboutism. Is it only OK if we do it?</sup>

Originally Posted by sabang

More, erm, Whataboutism. Is it only OK if we do it?

^ DOH!

Yes, whataboutism there, sabang.

The US did it and it made the news even here on TD. As a matter of fact, it comes up pretty often on this forum.

So why can’t it be a news report on Russia without the usual USA DID IT! Neener neener neener. Reminds me of Pee Wee Herman.

The simple answer is because..... the USA did it first! It doesn't negate the OP of course, but registering (and by inference 'tracking') foreign agents operating in ones domestic space is not unique to autocratic or non-democratic regimes. Obviously- the US being a prime example.

Can Russians be foreign agents?

Originally Posted by misskit

Can Russians be foreign agents?

Clearly such a simple distinction is lost on the likes of , Klondick or Sabang...

Of course Russians can be foreign agents, What on earth is the point being made?

Originally Posted by OhOh

Try this

https://meduza.io/en


Not an English teacher, but it appears to be English words.

Link works fine in Thailand, Kitt.

As does this propaganda "news" source.

RT - Breaking news, shows, podcasts

Quite rare these days to find an unbiased news source. I pretty much ignore news that has no effect on me. Stuff that does, I gather info on my own.

Originally Posted by sabang

On November 13, 2017, RT America officially registered as a foreign agent and will be required to disclose financial information.[33]
The U.S. Justice Department in 2018 ordered the Chinese state-run China Global Television Network to register as a foreign agent.[34]

Those sites are Foreign agents you blathering idiot. Although in your indoctrinated mind they are credible news sites they are in fact state run propaganda mills.

The main difference here is that Meduza is an independent source run by Russians. Once again your bullshit whataboutism and false equivalency falls short.

Originally Posted by bsnub

Once again your bullshit whataboutism and false equivalency falls short.

...an ageing crank with only one tune...

They are foreign agents, and registered as such in the US under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

As are their foreign equivalents in Russia required to be registered under the Russian equivalent of this law. D'ohhh.

No snubbles, 'Foreign agent' in this case does not mean foreign spy. You are so fucking dumb.

Originally Posted by sabang

You are so fucking dumb.

...ageing crank repeats same tune...

Originally Posted by sabang

As are their foreign equivalents in Russia required to be registered under the Russian equivalent of this law. D'ohhh.

You do not even now the history of Meduza as you clearly have not idea what you are blathering on about as usual. The only reason Meduza even exists is because of the Kremlin trying to take over their first news Lenta.ru;

In 2010, Harvard University conducted a study of the Russian blogosphere, and recognized Lenta.ru as the most widely quoted in the Russian-language blogs news source. According to research firm comScore, conducted in April 2013, the site Lenta.ru took 5th place in attendance of European news sites. According to Alexa.com in March 2014 Lenta.ru ranked 16th most popular in Russia.
On March 12, 2014 the owner, Alexander Mamut, fired Galina Timchenko and replaced her with Alexey Goreslavsky. 39 employees out of the total 84, including Director-general Yuliya Minder, including 32 correspondents, all photo-editors (5 people) and 6 administrators.^[1][2]

The employees of Lenta.ru issued a statement that the purpose of the move was to install a new Editor-in-Chief directly controlled by the Kremlin and turn the website into a propaganda tool.^[3] In October 2014, Timchenko together with several former journalists of Lenta.ru launched a new media based in Riga, named Meduza. Timchenko told Forbes that the decision to base Meduza in Latvia was made because "it is possible to establish an independent publishing house in Latvia, while in Russia it is impossible.[

I highlighted the key point for you. The Kremlin does not like unfavorable voices speaking freely.

Whether Vlad likes them or not, as 'foreign agents' they are required to register under the Russian foreign agent law. Just as is the case in the USA. Honestly, can I put this Any more simply??

Originally Posted by sabang

Whether Vlad likes them or not, as 'foreign agents' they are required to register under the Russian foreign agent law.

You blathering idiot they are all RUSSIANS that were forced out of the country because their site would have been shut down. The only reason they exist in the first place is because the Kremlin silenced their first news site, but you will continue to polish Putins knob because RT and Sputnik tell you so. What a lemming.

It would be like the US trying to shut down CNN forcing them to move to Canada and start a new channel. That is not a parallel to state owned media.

Oh, and no Americans work for RT? It is a Latvian news site, required to register as a foreign agent under Russian law. Just as would be the case under American law.

Originally Posted by sabang

Oh, and no Americans work for RT? It is a Latvian news site, required to register as a foreign agent under Russian law. Just as would be the case under American law.

The idiot is you. It is Russians in exile forced to leave the country. Stop trying to draw false parallels. You have to push your narrative though because god forbid you face the reality that there is no freedom of the press in Russia.