CNN to halt broadcasting in Russia following media legislation changes

CNN announced Monday it will halt broadcasting in Russia due to recent changes in media legislation.

"Following the CNN television channel's announcement that it will soon end broadcasts in Russia, the Communications and Mass Media Ministry of the Russian Federation explains that existing Russian laws do no stop this TV channel from distributing its information in Russia using cable and satellite networks," the ministry said.

There are legal forms and ways for foreign news channels to broadcast in Russia, it said.

"Representatives of this television channel can consult the Communications and Mass Media Ministry of Russia in order to receive the required licenses," it said.

The chairman of the Kremlin's human rights council, Mikhail Fedotov, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the decision would "seriously impoverish" Russia's information sphere.

There has been an increase in concerns regarding the media freedom in Russia as the government has taken control of all major domestic television stations and the independent-minded Echo of Moscow radio station has come under pressure.

The television channel was established by Ted Turner in 1980; it was one of the first to launch 24/7 broadcasting. The CNN Russia office opened in 1983, several years after the channel was started up in the United States.