Johnson's Russia List
#9198
12 July 2005
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A CDI Project
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#12
Novye Izvestia
July 12, 2005
FREEDOM OF SPEECH ON SCHEDULE
Leadership of the lower house seeking to control contacts with the media
Author: Natalia Kalinina
[A new resolution issued by the Duma leadership sets out some
stringent rules for holding press conferences and briefings.
Ordinary members of parliament, committee chairs, and faction
leaders will only speak to the media at designated times.]
The other day, all Duma members received copies of Resolution
231p-1, signed by Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov. Quite interesting in
itself, this resolution contains the parliament's new rules for
dealing with journalists. We have obtained a copy of the document.
As of now, press conferences by ordinary lawmakers, committee
chairs, and faction leaders will take place only at designated
periods. For example, ordinary Duma members, committee chairs, and
deputy speakers are supposed to talk to journalists between noon and
2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. And only with permission
obtained in advance from the Duma's organizational directorate.
Factions will be able to hold press conferences on Wednesdays and
Fridays. Contacts with the media at other times or days are not
encouraged. Briefings are not supposed to last over 30 minutes.
Moreover, the intention to hold a press conference or briefing
should be reported "at least two days in advance."
Applications for a press conference or briefing are not
supposed to be submitted by ordinary Duma members. They require the
signature of a deputy speaker or committee chairperson. Should the
topic of the briefing or press conference not be directly related to
the work of the lower house, the application will have to be
initialed by a deputy Duma speaker, no less.
Moreover, the use of dictaphones at press conference is only
permitted "in the small conference hall." Should the need arise to
record anything in some other room or hall, special permission will
have to be obtained.
Translated by A. Ignatkin
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