The State of Affairs in Russia

[Ancient Demon]

Much less rape porn I imagine.

[Razgovory]

Actually, the more I think of it, the more I like the idea of Russia pulling the plug on the net.  We should really try to get Putin do that.

[Admiral Yi]

The porn must flow. 

[Syt]

If that happens, how would "Nick", "Ben", and "Larry" post coincidentally similar critiques of American foreign policy in various comments sections?

I'm sure the FSB will retain some Compuserve or AOL accounts just in case.

[Capetan Mihali]

The US should give an F-35 to Pat Robertson.

[Syt]

http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/750657

Russia's ruling party backs cutting foreign media ownership

MOSCOW, September 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia's ruling United Russia party will support a bill to restrict foreign ownership in the country's media, Sergei Zheleznyak, deputy speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament told journalists on Monday.

Proposed legislation, introduced by deputies from Russia's Communist Party, Just Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party, would debar overseas individuals or companies from setting up their own media outlets in Russia and from owning more than 20% of any business in broadcasting or print media. Restrictions would apply equally to Russians who have dual citizenship and non-citizen residents.

If passed, the bill will go into force on January 1, 2016 but stakeholders will have until February 1, 2017 to bring ownership into line with regulations.

To become law, the bill must be passed in three readings in the lower house of parliament before being approved by parliament's upper house and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. The bill goes before Duma deputies on September 23.

[DGuller]

Can Russians cut the bullshit already and go straight to the self-extermination stage?  You know the sheep aren't going to mind going to the slaughterhouse for the glory of Russia, so what are they waiting for?

[Jacob]

So someone with dual-citizenship counts as a foreigner?

[DGuller]

So someone with dual-citizenship counts as a foreigner?

Well, consider the source of the typical second citizenship. 

More generally, my guess is that this is Putin tightening the screws on the oligarchs while the approval rating remains strong, like I predicted earlier.  They're the last source of potential trouble for him, as minimal as it is.  I guess is that there will be more such measures coming.

[Jacob]

Yeah I figured. It's a "don't try to have an escape route out of Russia and own media stuff at the same time" kind of thing.

Makes sense from Putin's POV.

[Syt]

So someone with dual-citizenship counts as a foreigner?

Wouldn't be surprised. From what I've read, Russians living abroad would be counted as foreigners under the law.

[Barrister]

I feel like pointing out that Canada does have laws restricting foreign ownership of media companies...

[Jacob]

I feel like pointing out that Canada does have laws restricting foreign ownership of media companies...

Including for people with dual citizenship?

[The Brain]

I feel like pointing out that Canada does have laws restricting foreign ownership of media companies...

Francophone isn't foreign.

[celedhring]

Spain used too, and they haven't been completely repealed by EU free market stipulations. (they are easily circumvented though).