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Russia Fines RFE/RL for 'Foreign Agent' Law Violation

VOA News

   The Russian government has levied a fine against the U.S.
   government-sponsored media outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for
   violating the country's "foreign agent" law.

   The $150,000 fine was assessed by Roskomnadzor, Russia's media
   regulatory body.

   Russia first designated RFE/RL, a sister organization of the Voice of
   America (VOA), a foreign agent in 2017, a step some say made its work
   in Russia more difficult. According to the Reuters news agency, Russia
   has fined the outlet several times in recent weeks.

   The foreign agent law gives a wide berth for the Russian government to
   erect bureaucratic hurdles to any nongovernmental group that receives
   foreign funding, Reuters reported.

   RFE/RL says it plans to appeal the latest fine.

   "We have court hearings about three times a week, and we get fined at
   each one," Andrei Shary, head of RFE/RL's Russian Service, said in an
   interview with the RIA news agency. "The company considers this to be
   unfair. Every court decision will be appealed."
   "The Kremlin's latest move is clearly intended to limit USAGM's ability
   to operate and report independently and objectively within Russia. It
   is unacceptable," USAGM acting CEO Kelu Chao told VOA.

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