10 July 2003 16:18
RUSSIA: IPI CONCERNED FROM NEW RUSSIAN BILL
The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in
over 115 countries, is deeply concerned about the bill titled "On Amendments and Addenda Brought into Certain
Legislative Acts," which was passed on June 18 and June 25 by the Duma and the Federation Council, respectively.
According to information provided to IPI, this bill, currently waiting for Your Excellency's ascent, seeks to
strengthen state regulation over independent media outlets, particularly during their coverage of election campaigns. As
Chairman of the Central Electoral Committee, Alexander Veshnyakov, has noted in the online daily Gazeta.ru, the main
purpose of the bill is to minimise the use of dirty campaign techniques in future elections, in particular, the use of
"Black PR" which blighted the 1999 parliamentary elections. While "Black PR", bribing journalists to
write negative articles about political opponents, is a pervasive problem in Russia and a product of the poor salaries
paid to journalists, the primary target of the present bill is the mass media rather than the people who offer them
bribes. Since "Black PR" reflects a lack of transparency in campaign finance in Russia, a far more appropriate
measure to address this problem would be campaign finance reform rather than greater media regulation. Journalists,
politicians, and academics have already condemned this bill which could seriously limit media reporting during
elections. The bill's vague language grants the Central Electoral Committee, the Russian Media Ministry, as well as
regional electoral commissions the authority to control media content. IPI believes that granting excessive and
arbitrary power to these authorities to close media outlets during election campaigns will not resolve the problem of
"Black PR" and will adversely affect Russia's already poor press freedom record by denying voters a
plurality of information and opinions about candidates.
[AIW [Asia Africa Intelligence Wire]] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
