Another attempt to limit freedom of expression in the media has failed, public media report.
The Ministry of Culture prepared amendments to the law that are claimed to only provide technical clarifications; however, according to the Latvian Association of Journalists, this is not the case at all. The amendments would significantly limit the ability of the media to obtain information from government agencies. When the association publicly expressed concern about the encroachment on freedom of expression, the Ministry of Culture postponed the consideration of this issue at a government meeting and, together with the Ministry of Justice, stated that such amendments should not be proposed.
The question remains unanswered as to whether this was a deliberate action or simply negligence. Part 1 of Article 7 of the Law on the Press and Other Mass Media prohibits the publication of information that is state secret or other information specially protected by law, inciting violence and overthrowing the existing system, promoting war, cruelty, racial, national or religious superiority and intolerance, or inciting the commission of other crimes.
According to the Latvian Association of Journalists, the prepared amendments "subtly" replaced the term "secret" with "information" in Article 7 of the law. This seemingly terminological detail would radically expand the scope of the ban, making virtually any information intended for internal use by ministries and agencies non-publishable. However, such information is necessary for journalists to uncover dishonest, harmful, and illegal actions in government administration.
The head of the association, Anastasia Teterenko-Supe, stated that the European Law on Media Freedom is aimed at ensuring the operation of the media in a free environment and in no way implies new restrictions.
