Assembly Committee exchanges views on media freedom in Russia

The Assembly’s Science, Culture and Education Committee has held an exchange of views with Russian journalists and parliamentarians. The participants spoke of the dire economic situation – high costs of newspaper delivery, economic dependence of regional media on government structures – as well as the need to improve media law and legal protection of journalists.

Dmitri Muratov, Editor-in-Chief of Novaya Gazeta, stressed that “a new kind of censorship was introduced in Russia” – disproportionately high fines for newspapers, ordered by courts as a result of lawsuits, on the grounds of “moral damage”. Alexei Venediktov, Editor-in-Chief of Echo Moskvy Radio, pointed out that proposed amendments to the existing media law would only worsen the situation of journalists. Both recalled that 80 per cent of the Russian media are controlled by government structures; Mr Yanalov, a chief editor from the Mari-El republic, said that 98 per cent of regional media economically depend on the government.

Assembly Vice President Valery Sudarenkov and Russian delegation member Valery Fedorov agreed that there was a need to improve, through legislation, the economic situation of the media and legal protection of journalists.

Committee Chair Lluis Maria de Puig (Spain) said that the exchange of views was very useful, especially in the light of the debate on Russia’s commitments, scheduled for Tuesday 23 April.