OSCE Media Freedom Representative denounces new legal restrictions in Russia as “deeply troubling for freedom of expression and media freedom”
VIENNA, 15 July 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today denounced the continued shrinking space for freedom of expression and media freedom in Russia as the authorities enact more restrictive laws.
Ribeiro’s comments follow President Vladimir Putin’s signing on 14 July of the law “On amendments to certain legal acts of the Russian Federation” that provides important changes in the media law, in particular, in relation to foreign media in Russia as well as the enactment of the law “On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence.”
“It is deeply troubling that Russia continues to impose such severe restrictions that are completely incompatible with the right to freedom of expression and media freedom,” Ribeiro said. “I call on the authorities to repeal these highly restrictive and disproportionate laws, and stop other initiatives that curtail public discussions and free flow of information, and exert a dangerous chilling effect on the work of media workers.”
The law “On amendments to certain legal acts of the Russian Federation” broadly empowers the Prosecutor-General or her/his deputies – upon consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – to ban the activity of foreign media that disseminates its products in Russia, including online, whenever the activity of a Russian media outlet in another country was banned or restricted. Such a ban can also involve withdrawal of accreditation of foreign correspondents in Russia, registrations and broadcast licenses, freezing of bank accounts and bank operations, and closure of bureaus of affected foreign media.
The same statute also introduces amendments to the law “On the Mass Media” allowing, for the first time since the law was adopted in 1991, the Prosecutor-General or her/his deputies to suspend the activities and ultimately close down media outlets without a court decision. The statute can be enacted if the prosecution considers actions to be in violation of a broad spectrum of bans, including dissemination of information “directed to discredit the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the aims of protection of the interests of the Russian Federation” or simply “untruthful information” on such a use (even unintentionally), as well as calls to introduce sanctions against the Russian Federation and expressions of disrespect towards Russian public bodies. During the suspension period, the publishers, editors and journalists of the affected media outlet(s) are not allowed to conduct any activity regulated by law “On the Mass Media”.
The new law “On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence” brings together and expands the existing ‘foreign agent’ regulations (which OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ribeiro addressed on many occasions previously) by introducing more overly vague and broad terms. It allows an entity to be labeled a ‘foreign agent’ if it “has received support and/or is otherwise under foreign influence” and engages in a broad range of activities, including raising issues of public interest and other standard journalistic practices. Among other things, the law also establishes a separate register of persons affiliated with a so-called ‘foreign agent’ by including anyone who is in any way connected (or was connected) with organizations and/or individuals carrying such a status.
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.