MOSCOW, October 22 (RAPSI) – State Duma lawmaker Alexei Kazakov has proposed to introduce a special sign for media outlets that receive foreign funding, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.

In early October, a group of lawmakers submitted a bill to the State Duma that would toughen control of media outlets that have international funding sources.

The bill will require the said mass media to inform the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor about their foreign financing.

According to the bill, media outlets would face fines equal to funds received for failure to report foreign budgeting; officials would pay fines of up to 50,000 rubles ($798). A court will be entitled to shut down an organization for repeated violation.

The initiative is aimed at improving the level of information security in Russia, the newspaper writes.

Kazakov plans to submit his amendments for consideration if the State Duma lawmakers adopt the original bill in the first reading.