28 June 2006

RUSSIA: CJES URGES DEFAMATION LAW REFORM


The Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations (CJES) invites free expression advocates to sign an online petition urging the Russian government to abolish laws that criminalise defamation.

Since 2000, when Russian President Vladimir Putin came to power, more than 300 lawsuits - an average of 45 to 50 per year - have been brought against journalists in the country, according to CJES. Under Article 129 of Russia's Criminal Code, anyone convicted of defamation can be imprisoned for up to three years.

International organisations, including the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have repeatedly urged Russia to repeal criminal defamation laws on the grounds that they are incompatible with international free expression standards.

Sign the petition here: http://www.cjes.ru/actions/action.php?p_id=2&l=en

Visit these links for more information:
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/protests/06ltrs/europe/russia31jan06pl.html
- IFJ Campaign Toolkit: http://www.ifj-asia.org/files/ifj_defamation_lr.pdf
- Council of Europe: http://tinyurl.com/oarkw
- OSCE Inventory of Criminal Defamation Laws: http://www.osce.org/item/4361.html


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Also from the Communiqué, 29 June 2006

BURMA: HARSH JAIL TERMS HIGHLIGHT REPRESSIVE STATE 28 June 2006 SOMALIA: SWEDISH PHOTOJOURNALIST MURDERED 28 June 2006 PANAMA: CRIMINAL DEFAMATION AMENDMENTS CAUSE ALARM 28 June 2006 JAPAN: HIGH COURT AFFIRMS JOURNALISTS' RIGHT TO PROTECT SOURCES 28 June 2006 THE GAMBIA: AU SUMMIT HOST BANS FORUM ON FREE EXPRESSION 28 June 2006 INTERNATIONAL: AMARC TO COVER GLOBAL AIDS CONFERENCE 29 June 2006 INTERNATIONAL: FXI EXAMINES ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 29 June 2006 INTERNATIONAL: LETTRE ULYSSES AWARD 29 June 2006 INTERNATIONAL: IJC TO OPEN JOURNALISM SCHOOL IN MOLDOVA 30 June 2006

Russia

Journalist detained for questioning after publishing open letter to Putin 9 February 2012 Government shuts HIV-prevention group's website 8 February 2012 Authorities "at war" with bloggers in Chelyabinsk region 3 February 2012 Independent newspaper suspends publication in response to pressure 27 January 2012 Tajik opposition journalist stabbed in Moscow 13 January 2012 See all alerts: Russia


Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia

AZERBAIJAN: Justice ministry harassment targets IRFS activities, says group's director 8 February 2012 KAZAKHSTAN / GERMANY: Make rights key to good relations, says Human Rights Watch 6 February 2012


 
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