MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/: The Russian State Duma on Thursday adopted in the third and final reading a bill developing legislation on foreign agents. The draft law is aimed at countering foreign interference.
The document, among other things, equates information items produced by a foreign agent for minors to information which is harmful to children's health and development.
The law also contains an article that enshrines a ban on rallies, marches and demonstrations at railway stations, airports, educational organizations and in places adjacent to the buildings of public authorities. At the same time, the ban would not be applicable to public worship and other religious rites and ceremonies if they are motivated by historical, cultural and other objective specifics of the Russian Federation’s subject.
As one of the authors of the document, Chairman of the Duma Commission on Investigation into Foreign Interference in Russia's Internal Affairs Vasily Piskarev, noted earlier, the document provides for corresponding amendments to a number of existing laws "in order to ensure that the general law 'On control of foreign influences' will come into force as of December 1." In particular, according to him, amendments are to be made to the laws on banks and banking activity, on service in law enforcement and security agencies, on state secrets and on elections.
Piskarev also pointed out that once the law entered into force, "employees of internal affairs agencies will not be able to continue their service if they acquire the status of a foreign agent." At the same time, he noted that the foreign agents would also not be able to be organizers of public events, members of election commissions with the right to a decisive vote, as well as be able to engage in the education of minors.
