The Russian telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor has sent out its first notices to bloggers that it wants on its registry, launched on Friday.

According to Izvestia, the first to receive notices include far-left writer Eduard Limonov, satirist Mikhail Zadornov, comedian Mikhail Galustyan, travel photographer Sergey Dolya, blogger mi3ch (Dmitry Chernyshev), crime novelist Boris Akunin and News Media CEO Ashot Gabrelyanov.

Vladimir Putin recently signed amendments to Russian communications law that created this registry, in order to place prominent bloggers under the same restrictions placed on traditional journalists — an interesting condition to place on satire. Any blogger with more than 3,000 readers can voluntarily sign up, but registration is mandatory if Roskomnadzor demands it.

Registered bloggers have to disclose their true identity, avoid hate speech, “extremist calls” and even obscene language. They also can’t slander anyone, and must verify any information before publishing it. If they…