The Kremlin expressed disappointment Thursday over the removal of a Russian state-funded TV station’s credentials in the United States and cautioned it would seek retaliation, according to The Associated Press.

A committee controlling Capitol Hill access for broadcasts journalists on Wednesday removed credentials for the Russian news network RT after the media outlet cooperated with a U.S. demand to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the report said.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the move breached media freedom and is an “extremely hostile act,” adding “we are deeply disappointed.”

“Such hostile and undemocratic decisions can’t be left without an answer,” he said in a conference call with reporters. “You don’t have to be a soothsayer to forecast an emotional response from our lawmakers regarding the U.S. media.”

Top Russian legislators cautioned representatives of the U.S. media could lose access to parliament and government agencies in response to the U.S.’ move, the report said. Foreign correspondents operating in Russia are currently given access to Russian parliament and some government agencies using their press credentials provided by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Speaker of the Russian parliament’s lower house Vyacheslav Volodin said the U.S.’ decision was a “challenge to the universal values of freedom of speech.”

“This is an attack on the foundation of democracy, and we aren’t going to tolerate it,” he said. “We are considering options for a symmetrical, quid pro quo response to the hostile U.S. actions. They will come soon.”

The removal of the credentials and Russia’s threats for retaliation come after the endorsement of new Russian legislation permitting the government to label international media outlets foreign agents after the U.S. demanded RT TV to register, the report said.

The bill was swiftly approved by the Russian parliament and signed into law by Putin over the weekend, the report said. According to the bill, any government or privately-funded foreign news outlet could receive the designation — allowing the Justice Ministry to single them out.

The ministry notified the U.S. government-funded Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other news outlets, they could be considered foreign agents under the new legislation, the report said.

U.S. intelligence agencies claimed RT worked as a tool for the Kremlin to intervene in the 2016 U.S. presidential election but Russia denied having involvement, the report said.

Russia’s hopes for improved relations with the U.S. under the Trump administration were destroyed amid congressional and FBI investigations into reported links between Trump’s campaign and Russia, the report said.

During a TV interview broadcast Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said ties between Russia and the U.S. are in “horrible” shape — the lowest point since the Cold War.

“Some American politicians are trying to solve their problems and put a pressure on their president by playing the ‘Russian card,’” Medvedev said.

— WN.com, Jubilee Baez