Interfax: Human Rights Council seeks liability for pursuit over criticism

MOSCOW. May 14 (Interfax) – Head of the Russian Presidential Human Rights Council Mikhail Fedotov said he intended to propose to include a provision in the Criminal Code on liability for pursuit over criticism.

“The Soviet Code used to have such an article. Now we have proposed adding it again, however this idea has not been supported. Nevertheless, we will try another way and will try to include it in Russian Criminal Code Article 144, which talks about obstructing reporter’s work,” Fedotov said at a Public Chamber meeting on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, the practice on the existing article 144 is zero, however not just the Investigative Committee but mass media executives are to blame, Fedotov said.

“When such a situation emerges, many executives do not file a statement with the Investigative Committee but address the public and hold news conferences,” Fedotov said.

Fedotov said he was opposed to the article on slander, which has returned to the Russian Criminal Code.

“A total of 41 people have been sentenced and 164 found not guilty under Article 128. It is evident that this standard should be changed and we will move in this direction,” he said.

[featured image is file photo]