Dmitry Medvedev has given a negative opinion to the bill about media proposed by a member of United Party, ex-spokesperson of the pro-Kremlin’s movement “Nashi” Robert Shlegel. The project was approved in the first reading in the State Duma on 25 April. Reminding, the proposed amendments allowed closing down a media entity for slaughter, while the current legislation implies the criminal liability for it.  

The President’s conclusion arrived at the Duma on Monday and it said that “Obviously, the provisions of the bill may lead to making obstacles for normal functioning of the media and will not help achieving the set goal – that’s protection of the citizens’ interests against spread of slanderous information”. As a result, Boris Gryzlov stated that in June the Duma would pose the bill for discussion and would reject it immediately.    

A member of United Russia Boris Reznik – he was the only Duma’s deputy to vote against the proposed amendments – reminded to a Novaya Gazeta correspondent that he “said publicly that there would be no second reading – either president or Federation Council would correct us”.   

“A hope is getting to appear, that any idiocy regarding the media wouldn’t be passed easily by the legislative power in our country” noted the deputy.  

In opinion by Igor Yakovenko, the secretary of the Union of Journalists, Medvedev’s decision is “a distinctive signal meaning that he is not going to be just a presidential-office-keeper, but is going to carry out his own independent policy”. “There are two vectors of attraction appearing” considers Mr. Yakovenko. “Conservative people will be attracted to where it is hissed at journalists and it is said ‘stop talking, otherwise we won’t allow you to be present at the government’s meetings’ (Putin’s words in his capacity of prime minister), while the modernizing part of the elite will be attracted where it is said that ‘freedom is better than non-freedom’ ”.  

Vsevolod Bogdanov, the chair of the Union of Journalists who met with the President - for the first time during last 10 years - offered him to consider a number of the bills regarding the media, at the Security Council. Now he is glad to see that the president declining the notorious bill “reacts so positively to the opinion by a journalist community”.     

Alexei Simonov, the chair of Glasnost Protection Fund, who is also glad about the opinion by the President, yet does not understand the “chemistry” of the decision taken. “Why did the deputies submit those amendments after first reading? Did they want him to reject them? United Russia had declined them even before and actually the bills not adopted by the Duma should not be submitted to the President’s consideration”. Mr. Simonov believes that as there is too little information on Medvedev, everyone wants some sensible actions to originate from him.