Russian state-owned news outlet Sputnik has applied for a White House press pass, Politico reported Friday.



Sputnik is applying to be a member in the White House Foreign Press Group, which would give it a chance to be a part of a group of about 22 foreign outlets covering Trump alongside pool reporters from U.S. news sources.



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The White House Foreign Press Group head Philip Crowther told Politico that if Sputnik meets the required criteria, there "shouldn't be any reason" for the Russian publication to not join the press pool.

The requirements would include a membership in the White House Correspondents’ Association, a verification by the State Department that Sputnik is based in Russia, and a White House-approved hard pass.

Sputnik, one of the newer Russian state-sponsored outlets, was launched in 2014.

It has been criticized for adopting a strong pro-Kremlin position and serving as a mouthpiece for Moscow.