Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Sergey Mironov
Federation Council of Russia
Moscow, Russia

7 May 2008

Dear Mr Mironov,

We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at draft legislation that would give authorities the power to close media outlets for alleged libel.

On 25 April, the State Duma approved the first reading of a draft law amending Article 4 of the Federal Law on the Mass Media. It adds "distribution of knowingly false information insulting the honour and dignity of other persons or denigrating their reputation" to a list of activities that constitute a "misuse of media freedom". This new offence, just as the others listed in Article 4, would provide grounds for the government to close a media outlet.

We are seriously concerned that this law, if passed, would further restrict independent reporting on publicly important issues and promote self-censorship. Recent similar amendments, such as the so-called “extremism package”, have already had such a restrictive effect.

We are seriously concerned at this regressive step by the lower house and respectfully remind you that closing a media outlet is a wholly inappropriate means of dealing with the issue of insult and libel and that such measures contravene a number of international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We believe that a civil award of reasonable damages is adequate and appropriate relief in all proven cases of insult and libel.

We respectfully call on you to do everything possible to ensure that the upper house rejects the proposed law. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that in future your country fully respects international standards of freedom of expression.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin O’Reilly
President
World Association of Newspapers

George Brock
President
World Editors Forum

WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is non-governmental and non-profit.

cc His Excellency Dmitry Medvedev
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Speaker of the State Duma Boris Gryzlov