MOSCOW, May 30 (RAPSI) – The State Duma passed in a final third reading on Thursday a bill fixing fines of up to 30,000 rubles (nearly $500) for unauthorized distributing foreign print periodicals in Russia.

Amendments expected to be introduced into the Code on Administrative Offenses have been triggered by Russian government, according to a statement of the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the initiative, permissions to distribute press would be granted by Russia’s communications agency Roskomnadzor. 

Unauthorized distribution of foreign print media would result in fines varying from 1,000 to 1,500 rubles for individuals, from 2,000 to 3,000 rubles ($30 - 50) for officials and from 20,000 to 30,000 rubles ($300 - 500) for legal entities. Moreover, offenders would face confiscation of their products.