Russian Presidential Advisor Discusses New Internet Regulations

A high-level advisor to Russia’s Presidents recently worked with IREX and media lawyers to help discern a new set of Internet laws.

In a country that Freedom House rates as one with no free press, the meeting was a significant event for all involved.

“Mikhail Fedotov is one of the best old-school lawyers and a former minister of press in Yeltsin’s government. His presentation was a master class on how civil code or other similar laws can and should be amended if the legal community thinks they need to be changed,” said Michael Mirny, Chief of Party of the Promoting New Media and Media Convergence in Russia program.

Fedotov gave the presentation to a group of 37 media lawyers. The participants were all members of the IREX-supported Council for Media Law. The Council was created in 2011 to facilitate discussion among lawyers on new legislation and law enforcement related to new media.

Mirny added the new laws did not pose a direct threat to Internet freedom, but that there will likely be some changes suggested at the Duma level.

The IREX Council for Media Law is supported by the USAID-funded Promoting New Media Media Convergence Program (PNMC) and PNMC partner, the Media Lawyers Collegium.