Russian journalists forwards mandate to Duma candidates

On Tuesday the Russian Journalists Union (RJU) forwarded the journalists' mandate to the registered election associations, blocs and candidates to the deputies of the State Duma (lower house of the parliament), RJU chairman Vsevolod Bogdanov told a press-conference in Moscow.

In his words, the mandate contains 11 points. In one of them, the RJU promises to back in the forthcoming elections those associations, blocs and candidates that in case of election, guarantee the restoration in the sphere of media of a zero level of the VAT, the adoption of a federal law on public TV and radio broadcasting, exclusion from the Russian Criminal Code of such punishments as arrest and imprisonment for libel and insults in the media.

In Bogdanov's words, the RJU initiative is aimed at creating a legal field for the legitimate activity of the media. In his words, PR and political technologies have been "confidently gaining ground" of late, while journalism " has been ceding its positions". Such an approach, in Bogdanov's words, is "a tragedy for society, sound business, politicians and the authorities." The RJU hopes to receive replies in writing from the addressees. In case they do not reply, the RJU intends to consider this as "a quite clear answer, too". The RJU intends to inform society about all the replies received.