Russia's Justice Ministry on Tuesday listed US government-sponsored Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), along with seven separate Russian or local-language news outlets run by RFE/RL, as "foreign agents," a move that could see them lose their reporting credentials in the Russian parliament.

"Foreign agents" must include in any information they publish or broadcast to Russian audiences a mention of their "foreign agent" designation. They must also apply for inclusion in a government register, submit regular reports on their sources of funding, on their objectives, on how they spend their money, and who their managers are. They can be subject to spot checks by the authorities to make sure they comply with the rules, according to a 2012 law, which has forced some NGOs to close.

The announcement comes amid an escalating tit-for-tat between Russia and the US over government-funded media outlets.

Russia's broadside against US media is part of the fallout from allegations that the Kremlin interfered in the US presidential election last year in favor of Donald Trump. US intelligence officials accused the Kremlin of using Russian media organizations it finances to influence US voters. 

Kremlin-funded RT television was registered with the US Justice Department last month as a foreign agent following a demand from Washington. In retaliation, Russia adopted a bill that allows the government to designate international media outlets as foreign agents.

The Kremlin has denied meddling in the election and said US restrictions on Russian broadcasters amount to an attack on free speech. 

After the committee that governs Capitol Hill access for broadcast journalists withdrew credentials for RT last week, the Russian parliament vowed to ban access for media organizations listed as foreign agents. A committee at the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, on Monday recommended a ban. The vote is expected later this week.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at the hearing at the Duma on Monday that the ministry supports the ban as a response to what Moscow sees as attacks on RT in the US. She insisted, however, that the foreign ministry would not strip any foreign media outlets of their credentials or undermine their work.