Russia's parliament approves bill banning advertising on websites of 'foreign agents'

(Reuters) - Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday banning advertising on publications by "foreign agents", a designation authorities have given to anti-Kremlin politicians, activists and media.

The new law will prohibit all Russian citizens and companies from placing advertisements on websites, blogs, social networks or any other resources published by a "foreign agent".

Vyacheslav Volodin, the Duma speaker and close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said the law would bolster Russia's security as it heads into the third year of war in Ukraine.

"Many of the scoundrels who received this money do not hide the fact that they used it to finance the Kyiv Nazi regime, which is killing our soldiers, officers, and civilians," Volodin said. "The law's adoption will stop this practice."

Russia says it is fighting "Nazis" in Ukraine whom it accuses of persecuting Russian language speakers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is Jewish and a native Russian speaker, and his Western allies say this is an absurd attempt to justify an unprovoked war of aggression.

The bill also prohibits designated foreign agents from placing their own "advertising materials", punishable by fines and up to two years in prison for repeated offences. Advertisers can incur penalties reaching 300,000 roubles ($3,262).

Journalist Katerina Gordeeva, who runs one of Russia's most popular YouTube shows with 1.64 million subscribers, wrote on the Telegram messaging app that she was suspending her work due to the law.

"We will no longer be able to work as before," Gordeeva said. "Of course, we will look for a way out."

NEGATIVE CONNOTATION

Russia in 2012 adopted its first law on foreign agents, which carries a negative Soviet-era connotation and obliges both individuals and organisations to identify themselves as foreign agents on social media and in other publications as well as exposing them to burdensome financial reporting requirements.

The Kremlin has significantly expanded the law since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, branding prominent writers, academics, businesspeople and independent news organisations with the label. The anti-corruption group of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died this month in the Arctic penal colony where he was being held, was given the designation in 2019.

Some 406 individuals are considered "foreign agents," according to independent news outlet Vyorstka, itself a "foreign agent". More than 20% are currently facing criminal prosecution, according to data published by the group on Wednesday.

The bill will now head to the upper house of parliament and then to Putin for signing into law.

($1 = 91.9700 roubles)

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Gareth Jones)