Post-Soviet Media Law & Policy Newsletter

Crisis of ORT

• Interfax cuts news service to ORT. 
• Upper house speaker critical of audit at ORT. 
• ORT to cut staff by 20 per cent.
• ORT wins reprieve from bailiffs.
• Russian powers pull media plug—Shutdown: Government officials silence a television broadcast and warn a radio station of safety violations that could result in its closure.
• ORT news bulletin curtailed by effects of court order.
• Government says it will not forsake ORT. 
• Russia TV withdraw lawsuits against ORT. 
• Yeltsin alleged to have stake in ORT.
• ORT boss fears bankruptcy after equipment audit. 
• ORT headed for bankruptcy?
• Government reshuffles ORT board. 

News from the Duma



• Better protection for audiovisual copyright.
• Duma seeks better “Parliamentary Hour” TV slot.
• Upper house veto on customs benefits for media stands.
• Paper claims news media ministry planned.
• Duma upholds veto on media tax concessions.

Communists Call for Control of Media

• Communists renew call for supervisory councils for TV.
• TV chiefs respond to Communists’ call for curbs.
• Communists urge PM to step up control of media.
• Communists threaten crackdown on TV.
• Government tells media, politicians to end conflict.
• TV chiefs hit back at Communists.
• TV chiefs fight communist bid to muzzle journalists.

Election News

• Russian TV and politicians in pre-election trial of strength?
• Media-Most opts to back Yabloko leader.
• Cash-strapped TV channels prepare for elections in 2000.

News on VGTRK

• Plans for VGTRK to pay taxes.
• PM urges VGTRK to consider its role as state institution.

VGTRK head backs premier’s TV guidelines. 

Other Media News 



• Yeltsin said to reject TV censorship.
• Replacement of TV-Centre general director denied.
• Prosecutors asked to penalize Eros TV, Info channels.
• Luzhkov’s media empire extends to Nizhnii.
• Sverdlovsk oblast considers restrictive media law.
• Media-Most denies damaging national interests.
• Media-Most criticized for using US-built satellite.
• Yeltsin extends tax benefits for media. 
• Media ask for state support.

• President in favour of independent broadcasting.
• Government “crusade” against media condemned.
• ANS TV denies allegations of bias. 
• Many private TV companies unable to operate. 
• Government “pressure” on broadcasters claim. 

• FM radio frequencies to be auctioned.

• Parliament agrees with president on broadcasting law.
• President rejects amendments to broadcasting law.

• Audio-visual council asks financial assistance for state-run Teleradio-Moldova.
• Parliamentary commission for budget and finance against VAT exemption for press.
• State television to cut broadcast time three-fold.

• President sacks independent-minded TV chief.
• Parliament official criticizes media restructuring.

President asserts control over radio-TV broadcasting.

• Parliament sets up broadcasting watchdog.

• Cabinet approves satellite radio, TV transmissions.

• Forum discusses state-run broadcasting.
• Broadcasting body supports Duna TV’s independence.
• Prime-time advertising banned on state TV.
• Media watchdog demands changes in media boards.

Left-wing leader criticizes proposals for TVP changes.

Official fears draft law not compatible with EU standards.

Minister wants “equilibrium” of TVP board. 

New head calls for privatization of TASR news agency.

Slovakia to sign Europe TV convention.

Slovak TV resumes programmes in Hungarian.

New Slovak TV chief outlines his plans.

Parliament dismisses STV director.

Journalists’ union to boycott Radio, TV councils.

Parliament passes amendments to law on public radio/TV. 

Bosnia-Herzegovina 

OSCE urges reform of SRT, RTVBiH.

Erotel to continue relaying HRT programmes.

IMC takes over monitoring of local media.

Draft law on federal radio-TV prepared.

Croats back plans for Croatian-language radio-TV.

Restructuring plans at RTVBiH. 

HRT law criticized at meetings with CE officials.

Official stresses need to change media policy.

RFE/RL operates “pan-Bosnian” radio network.

Unlicensed radio/TV stations closed.

EU, BBC to help Montenegrin Radio-TV.

Montenegro plans its own news agency.

Montenegro guarantees foreign rebroadcasts.

• British embassy accused over ANEM training.
• Serbian minister, TV director clash over media law.
• Independent media governing body elected.
• Citizens press charges against state media.
• No charges if rights not violated, says minister.
• Information law applies to Albanian-language media too.
• Serb media law may be revised—minister.

• Journalists’ union head urges greater media freedom.
• Transborder TV venture to include ethnic minorities.

• Law of Kyrgyz Republic on Mass Media
• Queries and Comments

• Monitoring Report of the Media Coverage of the March 1998 Parliamentary Elections in Ukraine