RAPSI Russian Legal Information Agency, 5 Feb 2013: "Counterintelligence officials at the US Department of Justice have asked a major Russian broadcasting company to submit all records of its contacts with Russia, Russian daily Izevestia reported Tuesday, citing a copy of the department's request. The authorities have demanded a description of all dealings and transactions that LLC RM Broadcasting, which organizes the broadcasts of the Voice of Russia radio station in the United States, has provided to Russia or any other foreign country. The company will be required to provide copies of any relevant written contracts and detailed descriptions of any relevant oral contracts. Depending on the results of this investigation, LLC RM Broadcasting may be required to register as a foreign agent in the US, in accordance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). ... A similarly worded but differently aimed law took effect in Russia in November." See also, in Russian, Izvestia, 5 Feb 2013, and RIA, 5 Feb 2013.

And that Russian law resulted in RFE/RL losing a 24-hour medium wave outlet in Moscow. Would this US attention to the Voice of Russia leases have anything to do with that? Other international stations, including China Radio International, lease time on US AM (medium wave) stations. Similar deals involve television stations. Will the owners of those stations come under similar scrutiny? (Thanks to Sergei in Moscow for the news tip.)