MOSCOW, February 9 (RAPSI) – A draft bill detailing the process of registration of mass media and setting out the grounds for denying foreign mass media licenses to operate in Russia to be evaluated by the Communications and Mass Media Ministry, Vedomosti newspaper reported on Monday.

Authors of the bill have not been identified. Spokesman for the ministry declined to comment, according to Vedomosti.

The bill would amend Article 54 of the federal law on mass media, which regulates the distribution of information in Russia by foreign mass media outlets and sets out grounds for denying license to operate on the territory of the country.

The license can reportedly be denied or revoked if a foreign media outlet reports unreliable information or if it breaks the law on extremism.The decision is passed by mass media regulator Roskomnadzor.

A foreign media outlet is defined as a legal entity that is not registered in Russia and whose founder or editorial are permanently headquartered outside Russia.

An explanatory note to the bill says that the current law stipulates the need to obtain a permission/license to operate in Russia, but it does not set out grounds for denying it to foreign media outlets or for revoking such a permission or license. However, the law stipulates this procedure for Russian media outlets.

Roskomnadzor representative Vadim Ampelonsky said that foreign media outlets willing to legally operate in Russia need to obtain a permission or license or create a legal entity in Russia and register it with Roskomnadzor as a Russian media outlet.