MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) - Experts will review proposed amendments increasing punishment for attacks on journalists and present them to the State Duma in September, MP Valery Trapeznikov said.
The draft law imposing harsher penalties for attacks on journalists was submitted to the Duma last week. Perpetrators will face a fine of up to 200,000 roubles or five years in prison for using or threatening to use violence against journalists if such act of violence does not put a journalist’ health at risk.
Violence that endangers a journalist’s life or health will be punished by a prison term of up to ten years.
“We asked different expert and professional groups to review the draft law by autumn so that we could amend it in September,” Trapeznikov said on Wednesday, July 17.
“Mass media members often come under pressure and are afraid of publishing corruption reports,” the MP said, adding that “this problem is most acute in regions.”
He stressed that the draft law was submitted jointly with MP Mikhail Serdyukov of Just Russia and “this joint initiative is an example of how the public good rises above public ambitions.”