Russian President Vladimir Putin's traditional annual message to the Federal Assembly of Russia in the Marble hall of the Kremlin. Journalists listen to Putin's statement in the lobby.
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Reporters without Borders has Placed Russia at the End of Freedom of Press Rating
October 27, Reporters Without Borders have placed Russia 140th among 167 countries in freedom of the press rating for 2004. The commentary to the rating notes that the events around the hostage-taking crisis in Beslan have displayed the Kremlin’s control over the national television.
The commentary to the rating also mentions the censorship of the coverage of Chechnya and the murder of editor-in-chief of the Russian language Forbes edition Paul Klebnikov.
However, Russia has improved its position in the rating from last year’s 148th position. Now, it has left behind such former Soviet republics as Uzbekistan (142) and Belarus (144). As to other ex-Soviet countries, the best situation with freedom of the press in registered in Latvia (10), Estonia (11), and Lithuania (16).
Nevertheless, all the other former Soviet Union members outstrip Russia by this indicator. Thus Moldavia is 78th, Armenia 83d, Georgia 94th, Tajikistan 95th, Kirgizia 107th, Kazakhstan 131st, Azerbaijan 136th, Ukraine 139th.
The rating was compiled by the following criteria: the censorship level, number of arrested or murdered journalists, the government’s share in the media stocks, and the legislative basis for journalistic work.
As predicted, the worst situation was registered in the countries of Eastern Asia and the Middle East.
The ten countries with the worst conditions for the press are North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Cuba, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Eritrea and Nepal.
The freedom of press leading countries are Denmark, Finland, Island and Ireland. On the whole, the EU countries occupied all the 40 leading positions of the rating. However the worst in the EU are Italy and Spain, which share the 39th position.
The United States is ranked 22nd and is accused of violating the immunity of sources, visa problems and journalists’ arrests during the anti-Bush rallies.
Australia is ranked surprisingly low at the 41st position. Its authorities are accused of limiting access for journalists to refugees’ camps in which the latter wait for political asylum.
|
|
|
