Russia to ban American journalists from covering parliament

Russian lawmakers are to discuss a ban on American journalists from covering the lower house of Russian parliament.

Olga Savastyanova, head of the Duma's lower chamber's committee on regulations and control, said her committee would consider a resolution containing the proposal next Monday. It would be put forward for approval of the chamber, known as the State Duma, on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The parliament will be considering the resolution next week.

"It will need to go through several steps, including being passed by the committee, the upper house and the lower house before the resolution becomes official," She added.

Government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the plan has the Kremlin's full understanding.

Russian international television network, Russia Today (RT) has been designated as a foreign agent by US authorities after intelligence officials alleged that it tried to meddle in the US presidential election last year.

RT has denied the reports.

Russia has been escalating restrictions on American media in response to the United States scrutiny on Russian state-funded outlets RT and Sputnik.

According to a report by Reuters, RT published a letter from the executive committee of the Congressional Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery saying that the channel's congressional press credential has been withdrawn due to its registration as a foreign agent in the United States.

(With inputs from news agency)