MOSCOW, December 13 (RAPSI) – The State Duma has passed in the third and final reading a bill introducing fines for failure to comply with the law regulating activity of messenger services.

According to the bill, individuals may be fined up to 5,000 rubles (about $85), officials may be fined up to 50,000 rubles (about $850) and legal entities may face fines of up to 1million rubles (about $17,000). It was noted that entrepreneurs acting without organizing a legal entity will face administrative liability as if they did.

In July, President Putin signed law regulating the work of messaging services and prohibiting anonymous use of online messengers.

The law obliges organizers of instant messaging to maintain message transmission only of the Internet users identified in accordance with a procedure established by Russia’s government and prohibits providers from working with unidentified users.

Moreover, the legislation proposes to identify users with the aid of their cell phone numbers basing on the agreement for identification concluded between organizers of instant messaging and communications providers.

Messengers would also face blocking in Russia for failure to comply with requirements to restrict anonymous messaging.