Russian court closes news agency, citing new obscenity law

[YahooNews]

By Alexei Anishchuk MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Moscow court on Thursday revoked the registration of web-based news agency Rosbalt for posting videos it said contained profane language, including a clip by punk band Pussy Riot, in violation of a law adopted earlier this year. Critics say the Kremlin-backed law banning profanity in the media is aimed at further tightening state control of news organizations in Russia as part of a clampdown on dissent under President Vladimir Putin. A medium-sized agency specializing in political and general news set up in 2000, Rosbalt earlier this year posted two videos on its website containing foul language, the court said. One clip featured a song by Pussy Riot, whose two members are serving jail sentences for a profanity-laced protest against Putin in a Moscow Russian Orthodox Cathedral.