Clifford Chance

Russia Media Ownership: A Changing Landscape

30 September 2014

On 26 September 2014 the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament, adopted in the second and (final) third reading the draft bill No. 604509-6 ("Amendment") which provides for far-reaching amendments to the Federal Law "On Mass Media" of 1991 ("Mass Media Law"). The Amendment deals with a set of restrictions on foreign ownership over Russian media businesses which seem capable of significantly changing the foundations of the media sector as it currently exists.

In this note we summarise the main provisions of the Amendment with a view to helping clients to understand what the Amendment may mean for their business in Russia and what, if any, steps may have to be taken in order to comply with the Amendment once it becomes effective on 1 January 2016.

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