Russia: Anti-Terrorism Law Not to Regulate Media

Excerpt from report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 19 July: The law on combating terrorism will not regulate the activities of mass media in the terror act zone, chairman of the security committee of the State Duma, lower house of Russia’s parliament, Vladimir Vasilyev told journalists on Tuesday [19 July].

The draft law that passed through the first reading in the Duma initially envisaged to spell out the regime of journalists’ work in emergency situations. However, “it has been decided to discuss this matter outside the law framework”, Vasilyev said.

“It is a very sensitive matter and I don’t think we will return to it,” the official said.

According to him, the issue of activities of representatives of the press during acts of terrorism is planned to be laid down in the law on mass media.

[Passage omitted: General information on combating terrorism]