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Chairman of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that the President of Russia Vladimir Putin "took absolutely the right decision", vetoing the amendments to the law "On the Mass Media" that imposed constraints on journalists reporting on the emergencies. "This is an independent and absolutely correct decision," said Yavlinsky.

Press realease
25.11.2002

At the same time Yavlinsky stressed that "the issue of fighting for the freedom of speech is not over yet, and much work lies ahead." Speaking about subsequent work on amendments in the conciliatory commission, the leader of YABLOKO told journalists that "we shall do all we can to ensure that the most odious provisions are removed from the draft law."

YABLOKO has consistently opposed the adoption of these amendments to the law "On the Mass Media" in the wording submitted to parliament. According to YABLOKO, the amendments would make it possible to both restrict freedom of speech and repress disobedient mass media and could also be used against all critics of the actions of the authorities.

Deputies of the YABLOKO faction had prepared a number of their own amendments by the second reading of the draft law in the State Duma, that would have ruled out any potential loose and arbitrary interpretation of the actions prohibited for the mass media. However, most deputies of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament did not support YABLOKO's proposals at the time

Members of the YABLOKO faction called on members of the Federation Council to return the amendments to the Duma for further development. The leader of the YABLOKO faction Grigory Yavlinsky also tried to persuade the President to do the same during the meeting of Vladimir Putin with the leaders of the Duma factions.

See also:
Freedom of Speech and Media Law in Russia

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