Moscow Union of Journalists alleges violations of freedom of speech in Russia

The head of the Moscow Union of Journalists (SJM), Pavel Gusev, said that the media are over-regulated in Russia, which runs counter to the principle of freedom of speech.

“Over the past four years, our deputies have introduced more than 400 amendments trying to destroy the Russian media, to turn them into tame animals,” Gusev said Thursday at the World Congress of the Russian Press in Moscow.

“Not all amendments were adopted. But as a result of those adopted, we lost 40% of the advertising market. Now attempts are being made to reverse some laws, but not everything works,” said the head of the SJM.

At the same time, he noted that it is the print segment of the press that is experiencing the greatest pressure: over the past two years, about 40% of print kiosks have been closed, Russian Post was deprived of subsidies, after which the cost of subscriptions to publications increased by 80%, making it unaffordable for most citizens.

He added that today 85% of Russian media belong to the state or its affiliated structures. “And this creates an information threat to the population and the journalistic community. The journalist is losing his profession,” Gusev said.