Russia refused to review national anti-terrorism laws affecting freedom of speech

On May 28-29, 2009 the ministers of states participating in the First Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and New Communications Services (including Russia) held in Reykjavik, adopted the political declaration, as an Action Plan that outlines the direction of the organisation’s future work on media and the Internet. The Russian Federation was presented by Ekaterina Larina, director of the Department for State Policy in Mass Media, Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications.

In a political declaration they stated that the Council of Europe should explore the notion of media and, if necessary, review the concept itself, establishing criteria for distinguishing media or media-like services from new forms of personal communication.

In the conference, the ministers also adopted resolutions on the new notion of media, critical Internet resources, and the protection of freedom of expression and information with regard to anti-terrorist laws.

They stated that although in some cases it is inappropriate to disseminate particular information in order to prevent terrorist acts in the interest of an ongoing investigation, the protection of the victims or judicial proceedings, “reporting on terrorism cannot be equated to supporting terrorism”. They also underlined that concerns have been raised that, in some cases, anti-terrorist laws restricting freedom of expression and information in member states are “too broad, fail to define clear limits to authorities´ interference or lack sufficient procedural guarantees to prevent abuse”.

But the most significant point was that the ministers resolved to «review national anti-terrorist laws and practice on a regular basis to ensure that any impact on freedom of expression and information is consistent with the Council of Europe standards, in particular the case law of the European Court of Human Rights». But there was an exception: The Russian Federation supported all the adopted texts with the exception of this undertaking.

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