MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI) – The State Duma MPs passed a bill on blocking of websites containing defamatory information insulting society, state symbols and state bodies in the first reading on Thursday.

Amendments are proposed to the Federal Law on Information, Information Technology and Information Protection and the Administrative Offences Code.

Under the bill, Russia’s Prosecutor General and his deputies would be entitled to apply to the communications agency Roskomnadzor with a request to block websites breaking legislation.

Moreover, the initiative envisages fines of up to 5,000 rubles (about $80) or administrative detention for up to 15 days for these violations.