This is from a Dec. 2 article from Pravda online. It confirms what I think about the current Russian leadership regime: They just don't think there is enough control over things.
Oddly, I can't find much on this new law, so if anyone out there in cyberspace knows more, please drop me a line.
Anyways, here's the highlights of the Pravda piece:
- According to the article, the law is called About the counteraction to terrorism
- It was drafted by the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB), the successor to the KGB (Hey: Instead of having no-nothing politicians draft laws, why not let our police and spooks do it?)
- There's a new term for all you jargon lovers out there: The terrorist danger regime
- When such a regime is declared, authorities will be able to control auto and pedestrian traffic, tap phones and ban street demonstrations in a designated zone.
- Journalists won't be able to independently report from the zone. They could well be banned outright. The article said: If the press is allowed to report from the site of a special operation, it will not be possible for journalists to use candid cameras, take pictures and audio recordings without a special permission for that from the chairman of the special headquarters. To crown it all, the new draft law prohibits exposing the information about scenes or facts of extreme violence.
I can't adequately summarize these last few grafs. They must be enjoyed in their natural state:The new law has not evoked a universal approval in the Russian society, though. Experts stand against the media censorship as far as news reports about terrorist acts are concerned. However, they urge journalists not to assist terrorists with reports and publications. Oleg Khlobustov, a professor of the FSB Academy, said during a press conference that terrorists often used mass media to prepare new attacks.
"Media outlets often expose various characteristics of terrorists' bombs, for example. Furthermore, reporters may add something about a way to make the destructive effect more powerful. One may apply the following classification to all terrorists: they can be mentally unbalanced people, professionally trained guerrillas, or those who learn terrorism from TV, radio and newspapers," Oleg Khlobustov said. A fourth of the terrorists can be referred to the last category.
The expert suggested the use of certain regulations, which journalists will have to stick to in their reports about acts of terrorism. "In my opinion, terrorists' requirements and statements must not appear without adequate comments from the special services. Journalists are not supposed to interview hostages, especially children, when they experience a state of profound shock and stress. The live broadcasting of special operations is not supposed to take place either," Khlobustov added.
Oleg Nechiporenko, the General Director of the national anti-criminal and the anti-terrorist foundation, said that the anti-terrorist struggle gave birth to a new weapon of mass destruction, which was aimed against the mind of the society: "This weapon works on account of abundant information about terrorism in the media," said he.
It's simple: Less information about terrorism in the media, less terrorism!
Back to the future.