Proposed media ownership requirements could further damage media pluralism in Russia, OSCE Representative says

WARSAW, 24 September 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today called on the Russian authorities to carefully address proposed changes to legislation on media ownership requirements.  

On 23 September the State Duma in a first reading approved amendments to the Law on Mass Media which would limit foreign ownership of media outlets to 20 percent. The current threshold is 50 percent and primarily applies to television and radio stations. The amendments would extend to all media, including print and online outlets. 

“I hope the proposed changes would not pose risks to media pluralism and limit diversity of opinions,” Mijatović said. “Any legislative changes, especially in such a sensitive field as freedom of the media, should be carefully drafted and scrutinized.”

Mijatović said the new law should not concentrate ideas and information in the hands of political elites, thus hampering the important watchdog function of the journalists.

Mijatović is in Warsaw participating in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.