Power has become increasingly applies as much to journalists as to the servants, of servants. Not like a reporter – specific official-and here it is not allowed on the threshold government agencies, or denied the comments. One of those ugly stories happened on June 18 in the Ministry of agriculture and fisheries of the Republic of Karelia. On this day a meeting was held. Minister Vladimir Labinov has banned the journalist of the United editorial Board of the journals “TVR-Panorama and Petrozavodsk says” Antonina Cableway to be in the hall. Explained its decision simply – he doesn’t like her publication.
the Chief editor of the newspaper “TVR-Panorama” Maxim Tikhonov and the Chairman of the Union of journalists of Karelia Georgy Chentemirov already appealed to the Prosecutor with a request to check the legality of the actions of the official. But is it worth to wait for the response from the local guardians of the law, who rarely want to go into conflict with officials in their region? And the history with journalism for them as a source in office of public Prosecutor, not as a significant reason for the proceedings. Oh it?
– it Seems that the official decided that he is free to determine how to work with journalists, – says the head of the monitoring center for the protection of the rights of journalists and media in the Council under RF President on development of civil society and human rights Alexander Alimov. But there is a Law where it is specifically and clearly described all rights of journalists. Unfortunately, such cases were not uncommon. And occasionally we get the signals, like the journalists who write the materials that do not like officials are under pressure or have limited rights. This particular case may well be regarded by law enforcement as a crime described in article 144 of the criminal code – obstruction of professional activities of a journalist.
note, if this goes to trial and he will establish the guilt of the Minister, that could face a large fine, up to 300 thousand roubles, or corrective works. In this article of the criminal code, the official can be denied the opportunity to hold certain positions for up to three years. The article, by the way, implies incarceration in some cases.
Our colleagues from Karelia to report that this incident is not the only thing like this has happened before, continues Alymov. – Accountable so no one suffered. Given that the current situation has already sent a letter to the Prosecutor, and journalists supported the Union of journalists and the incident fell into a summary of our monitoring center in the HRC, there is hope that the perpetrators will be punished and won’t happen again. Officials who believe they are above the law, it is worth remembering that the media is their ability to build dialogue with society, and attempts to interfere with the independent work of journalists in the first place, harm themselves will represent��pits of power.
