OREANDA-NEWS. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet believes that the law on media agents will negatively affect rights and freedoms in Russia.

“The new amendments to the 2012 law on civil society, known as the “Law on Foreign Agents”, have expanded its application to individuals who distribute foreign media or publish material and at the same time receive money from abroad. It will have a negative impact on exercising freedom of expression and other forms of public participation in decision-making", said Bachelet on Thursday at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

According to the amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses that entered into force on February 1, non-compliance with the procedure for media-agent established by Russian legislation will entail fines: for citizens - 10 thousand rubles, for officials - 50 thousand rubles, and for legal persons - 500 thousand rubles.

In case of repeated commission of such acts, the sanctions will increase: for citizens - up to 50 thousand rubles, for officials - up to 100 thousand rubles, for legal entities - up to 1 million rubles.