Russian parliament curbs media's foreign ownership

MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of Russian parliament on Friday approved a bill that would limit foreign ownership in Russian media to 20 percent amid a severe strain in Russia-West ties regarding Ukraine.

The Kremlin-controlled State Duma on Friday voted 430-2 to pass the measure, which is widely seen as the Kremlin’s move to further stifle media freedom. The bill needs to be approved by the equally pliant upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law, steps considered to be a mere formality.