24 June 2009 WHO WILL BE RESPONDED FOR “REQUIRED” RADIO AND TELEVISION?

Lawyer Evgeny Arkhipov, the studio of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Moscow

June 24, 2009 the list of the Required Russian TV channels and radio stations were published in the Presidential decree of Dmitry Medvedev «About the required nationwide television channels and radio stations». In the combined list are several government and non-government but pro- governmental TV channels, radio stations received preferential conveyances of broadcasting. How these channels and radio stations were selected by the contests or the polls? The question remains open. We note the emergence of «the white list of the favorites» violated the antimonopoly legislation and a number of constitutional principles and rules.
- Concerning to free broadcasting, the state is obliged to provide equal conditions and equal opportunities for all participants in this field, - said Evgeny Arkhipov a Chairman of Association of Russia Lawyers for Human Rights. – The Presidential Decree is contradicts completely antimonopoly law and provides a discriminating conveyances for other TV companies and Radio stations.
In practice many Russian officials recognize the same rules in Soviet-style tradition and it is a real danger of closing of all the other channels and radio stations.
The right of Russian citizens to obtain information may be limited greatly and freedom Russian media guaranteed by the Constitution of Russian Federation, as well as international rules and principles may be eliminated.
The position of the media who are under real threat of closure, as well as political parties, civic institutions, which declared its responsibility to defend freedom of speech in Russia as one of democratic principles is surprising. If civil and political activists, media do not speak to defend freedom of speech and are not consolidated, Russia will return to Soviet era of the four main channels.

We appeal to Dmitry Medvedev a Russian President to cancel the decree as illegal, unconstitutional which contradicts to the principles and rules of international law.
Also we address human rights defenders, civil society organizations, political parties to join affords in order to protect freedom of speech in Russia.