Post-Soviet Media Law & Policy Newsletter

Signs of the Times

Russia

I.  Pornography Bill Moves Ahead.
II.  The Duma's trying to change the law on the media.
III. Head of Gazprom-media explains goals.
IV. Official reacts to Duma decree on TV regulation.
V.  NTV Group reorganized.
VI.  Parliament restricts TV coverage of elections.
VII.  Chelyabinsk authorities wage war against local paper.
VIII.  Russian TV worried about Duma threat to ban adverts.
IX.  Radio Russia head comments on future plans.
X.  Russian paper reports on media “crackdown.”
XI.  Radio and TV law "rules out public TV," says academic.
XII.  Russia TV head comments on state's influence.

Armenia

I.  Journalists, public protest over TV censorship.

Azerbaijan

I.  Group appeals for Turkic broadcasts to Iran.
II.  Reciprocal deal to allow Iranian output on AzTV.
III.  AzTV should broadcast in Azeri alone–paper.
IV.  Conditions for allowing Azeri TV broadcasts in Iran.
V.  Late “obscene” independent TV programmes banned.

Belarus

I.  MPs approve media law amendments.
II.  Russian-Belarusian TV channel mooted.

Estonia

I.  Alcohol adverts allowed on TV.
II.  TV rights dispute over “Home and Away.”
III.  Broadcasting council limits rights of TV and radio heads.
IV.  Ship-based TV Zoom says it will not operate illegally.
V.  Official sees planned TV Zoom as “scandal.”

Kyrgyzstan

I.  President vetoes media law.

Moldova

I.  MPs overrule president’s veto on media law.

II.  Deputies dispute nomination of new Teleradio-Moldova Company chiefs.
III.  Parliament approves new Teleradio management.

Tajikistan

I.  TV language commission set up.

Ukraine

I.  Schedule for 1998 election broadcast.

II.  President seen wanting control of TV.
III.  President blocks broadcasting law amendments.
IV.  Political pressures force Studio 1+1 to drop programmes.
V.  President rejects MPs’ resolution on national TV studio.
VI.  TV wars prelude Ukraine’s parliamentary elections.
VII.  Ukrainian public TV and radio company set up.
VIII.  Parliament amends TV and radio broadcasting law.

Uzbekistan

I.  Official explains changes in mass media bill.

II.  Draft mass media law bans foreign ownership.

Albania

I.  Facilities of TV Shijak reported destroyed.

Bulgaria

I.  Left-wing MPs challenge media act amendments.

II.  Socialist MPs refer media act changes to court.
III.  President discusses broadcast council appointments.
IV.  Premier denies politicization of broadcast council.

Czech Republic

I.  Council warns against media “manipulation.”

II.  Czech government to debate EU television directive.

Hungary

I.  Duna TV’s fifth anniversary, future plans.

Poland

I.  New management at PAP to prepare for privatization.

II.  Left sees bid by government to “subjugate TV.”

Slovakia

I.  Radio Twist head warns about Slovak transmitters.
II.  STV to circumvent ban on privatization of its 2nd channel.

Yugoslavia and Former Yugoslavia

A.  Bosnia-Herzegovina

I.  Serb S-Kanal TV launched from Pale. 
II.  New Serb TV’s alleged link to Karadzic. 
III.  New Serb TV told to avoid “incendiary reporting.” 
IV.  NATO denies blocking access to SRT transmitters. 
V.  OHR rejects Pale’s request for return of transmitters. 
VI.  Bosnian Serbs demand access to transmitters. 
VII.  New media commission to start work. 
VIII.  Serb St George Radio reportedly resumes broadcasts. 
IX.  St George Radio protests seizure of equipment. 
X.  Serb St George Radio broadcasts “forcibly suspended.”XI.  Sarajevo TV editor rejects criticism by High Representative.
XII.  St John Radio head says Sfor blocking transmitter access. 
XIII.  NATO-led troops close Serb St John radio temporarily.

B.  Croatia

I.  Croatian paper welcomes creation of Serb TV Dunav.
II.  Slavonian Serb TV studio to broadcast on Croatian TV.
III.  Croats angry at Muslim treatment of Croat media.
IV.  Authorities order dismantling of Zenica transmitter.

C.  Montenegro

I.  Top media officials in Montenegro resign.

D.  Serbia

I.  Minister rejects allegations of a closed media.
II.  Radio Indeks interference linked to Kosovo reports.
III.  Serb local TV stations link up.
IV.  UK promises more aid to Yugoslav independent media.

E.  Slovenia

I.  Objectivity of radio, TV and press assessed.

Articles

Judicial Chamber Rules on Presumption of Innocence (Russia)

On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum (Russia)

Slicing The Media Cake: The Parliament Resolves to Give Prime Time to New Broadcaster Claiming National Interests Are Endangered (Ukraine)