Putin clears law against ‘fake news’ on army; BBC, CNN, others suspend operations
Radio station Ekho Mosvky said it was shutting down after being taken off air over Ukraine war coverage
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cleared a law that intends to punish journalists with a harsh jail term of up to 15 years for publishing “fake news” about the army.
The bill, which was adopted by lawmakers earlier on Friday, sets out jail terms of varying lengths and fines against people who publish "knowingly false information" about the military.
Journalists will also be penalised if they publish news contradicting officials' statements on Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
On Friday, Russia's media watchdog said it had restricted access to the BBC and other independent media websites and blocked social media giant Facebook.
The passage of law triggered pushback from western news outlets, with BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC), CNN and Bloomberg suspending their operations in the country.
BBCDirector-General Tim Davie said the legislation "appears to criminalise the process of independent journalism".
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian jets use heavier steel compared to US jets
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why are iPhones so expensive compared to Android phones?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From Tom Holland-Zendaya to Blake Lively-Ryan Reynolds: Actors who met on sets and fell in love and married
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 openers with fastest ODI centuries, check who tops list
)
At least 3 killed in mass shooting at Idaho restaurant, shocking video of gunman open firing with AR-style rifle surfaces
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC Test rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter pilots wear blue flight suits compared to US pilots
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How often does an S-400 need maintenance?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
7 longest flights in the world - Singapore, Qantas, Qatar and others
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
August 2025 movie release calendar: Toxic, Batwara 1947, Awarapan 2 and all big-ticket films hitting theatres
)
From trash to energy: Scientists turn plastic waste into Hydrogen fuel using a new technique - Here's how
)
'Muslims should not befriend kaafirs': Pak Army DG says India-Afghan ties that of 'master-slave'
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (August 3-9, 2026): Main Vaapas Aaunga, Uyir, Operation Safed Sagar- 6 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC Test rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
)
CJP's Abhijit Dipke speaks to protesting students in Jharkhand, extends support to their demands: Will he go to Ranchi?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian tanks are much lighter compared to US tanks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC ODI rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
)
Have 7,000 Karnataka students tested positive for HIV? Here's the truth
)
Who is Ruchika Singh, booked for using foul language against PM Modi at Jantar Mantar protests?
)
What’s happening in Nepal? How did a local clash turn into communal violence? WION Decodes
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
World's largest digital camera captures over 500,000 galaxies, 50,000 stars in one stunning image
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Fifth-generation fighters': Can the S-400 shoot down an F-35?
)
Bomb-making note found at Ayodhya medical college, 1st-year student detained. Here’s all we know
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Italy will not...’: Meloni threatens Spain’s Schengen access after thousands enter Ceuta from Morocco
)
‘Pakistan eroded India's faith bit by bit’: Indian envoy defends putting Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
One S-400 battery, dozens of targets: How it fights an air battle in seconds
)
1.8 Mn years old: Scientists discover two mysterious 'ghost ancestors' hidden in human genome - More details inside
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Can an S-400 detect a bird?
)
'FIR not withdrawn' against Noida teen who 'abused' PM Modi despite apology, claims CJP
"It leaves us no other option than to temporarily suspend the work of all BBC News journalists and their support staff within the Russian Federation while we assess the full implications of this unwelcome development," he said in a statement.
Bloomberg News said it was also temporarily suspending the work of its journalists inside Russia.
Also read |‘Cyber Armageddon’ in Europe: Thousands go offline following Russia-Ukraine war, says report
"The change to the criminal code, which seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country," Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait said in a statement.
The CBC said it had temporarily suspended reporting from the ground in Russia so it could seek clarity on the new law.
In a statement, it said that it was ‘very concerned’ about the law, which ‘appears to criminalise independent reporting on the current situation in Ukraine and Russia’.
"CNN will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward," a spokesperson said.
The adoption of penal law follows sanctions announced by the European Union which has bannedRussia Today (RT) and Sputnik in the wake of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(With inputs from agencies)