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UK SECTION |
The AEJ is active across the continent
of Europe. Please visit its website, www.aej.org,
and check AEJ Newsletters
for information about what it is doing for its members |
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AEJ Media Freedom Representative writes to
the Chairman of the Russian Election Commission |
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London, 1 December 2007 Letter from William Horsley, AEJ Media Freedom
Representative, to Mr Vladimir Churov,
Chairman of the Central Election
Commission of the Russian Federation (with copy by mail to the CEC, Bolshoi Cherkassy pereulok, dom 9,
Moscow 109012, Russia) Dear Mr Churov, I am writing to
express the deep concern of the Association of European Journalists, an
independent organisation of journalists active in more than twenty countries,
over the overwhelming evidence of systematic media bias in favour of the
ruling political forces in the current campaign for elections to the Russian
State Duma. We note the stark
finding of the Russian Union of Journalists’ analytical section, the
Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, that over a period of seven
weeks from October 1 to November 22, before the December 2 2007
State Duma elections, four out of five national TV channels in Russia gave
the ruling powers more than 75 percent of their prime time news coverage
and that those media neglected to give any significant airtime to opposition
parties to challenge the positions of the ruling powers. The CJES concluded
that President Putin, the government and the United Russia party dominated
coverage and the state-funded media failed comprehensively to give balanced
and objective coverage of the election campaign. The Association of
European Journalists also notes that the independent International Press
Institute, in its November 2007 update, states that pressures on the Russian
media to provide favourable coverage to the ruling party in an unbalanced way
has increased in the past six months. The IPI says the methods employed by
State officials and others includes the aggressive harassment of journalists
and the selective use of bureaucratic regulations. |
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The
Association of European Journalists today sent a letter to the Chairman of
the Central Election Commission in Russia, Mr Vladimir Churov, expressing
concern about the “overwhelming evidence” of media bias in favour
of United Russia in the current State Duma election campaign. The letter was
sent in the name of the AEJ Media Representative, William Horsley. It has
been circulated today to the UK Press Freedom Network, including more
than 20 media organisations and civil rights NGOs active in the UK and
internationally. ___________________________________________ As you know, Russia's Federal Law on State Duma
Elections (51-FZ with latest amendments from 24.07.2007) states clearly
(Article 51) that media election coverage shall be objective and accurate and
shall not violate the equality of candidates or political parties. It also
lays down (Article 62) that if any media organisations violate these rules
the Election Commission may take action through the law-enforcement
authorities, courts or executive bodies to enforce the law. In view of the
evidence I have mentioned, I ask you respectfully to reply to these points:
Are you aware of the evidence of serious political bias allegedly shown by
state-controlled and other national media in The AEJ has a
membership of about 1000 journalists working in countries within the Council
of Europe area. We have no Russian members and also no intention to take the
side of any political party of group in I look forward to
receiving your reply. Yours faithfully, William Horsley Media Freedom
Representative of the Association of European Journalists email: william@aej-uk.org, website: www.aej-uk.org |
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