MOSCOW, June 30 (RAPSI) — The State Duma on Thursday passed a bill empowering Prosecutor General and his deputies to ban foreign mass media in Russia in response to hostile actions by foreign states regarding Russian media working abroad.

The draft law was adopted in a final third reading.

The proposed provision is proclaimed by its authors as a tool to immediately respond to unfriendly actions against Russian mass media.

In addition, the bill gives Russian Prosecutor General and his deputies the right to issue a request to suspend the operation of the media for a period of not more than 3 months in case of dissemination of illegal content. If it’s repeated violation, suspension is up to 6 months. However, the measure may be lifted sooner if that content is removed.