This photo shows a plenary session being held at the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, in Moscow, Russia. (File Photo by State Duma)

 
Russian lawmakers have submitted a bill to the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, proposing to label individuals as foreign agents if they engage in politics while being funded from abroad.

"Previously, individuals spreading information of a media outlet labeled as a foreign agent were recognised as foreign agents. Now we introduce a new criterion, that of engaging in political activities related to foreign influence (receiving money or other material or organisational assistance from foreign sources)", the explanatory note read.

Under the bill, people recognised as foreign agents would be banned from holding public office. Proceedings would be instituted against them for failure to comply with obligations under the Administrative Violations Code.

Lawmakers also submitted to the lower house a bill to clarify the concepts of "a candidate acting as a foreign agent" and "a candidate affiliated with a person performing functions of a foreign agent" in the Russian legislature.

Another bill submitted to the parliament suggests that unregistered non-profit organisations receiving foreign funding for their political activities be labeled as foreign agents.

Under the legislature, these organisations would be obligated to reveal their foreign agent status in all materials and addresses.