Russian Federation

[RU] New Structure of Regulatory Bodies

IRIS 2004-5:1/22

Dmitry Golovanov

Moscow Media Law and Policy Centre

On 9 March 2004 President Vladimir Putin signed the Decree "On the system and structure of the federal executive bodies". In order to elaborate on the Decree's provisions the Government of the Russian Federation approved on 6 April 2004 the Ordinance regulating the authority of the new Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications and on 8 April 2004 the Ordinance regulating the authority of the new Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications. The latter Ordinance enters into force on 21 April 2004.

According to the Decree of 9 March 2004, the former Ministry of Press, Television and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communication is now the Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications, part of the new Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications. The competence of the old authority shall be allocated between the new Ministry and the Agency.

The Ordinance of 6 April 2004 stipulates that the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications shall be the federal executive body that carries out governmental policy and provides legal regulation in the sphere of mass media and mass communications (Point 1). The Ministry shall co-ordinate and control the activities of the Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications. Until television and radio broadcasting licensing procedures are amended by legislation, the Ministry is authorised to license television and radio broadcasting (including transmission of television or radio signals using satellite) and exhibition of audiovisual works in cinemas.

According to Point 1 of the Ordnance of 8 April 2004, the Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications is "the federal executive body, performing the functions of providing state services, managing state property, and enforcing law in the sphere of press, mass media and mass communications". The Agency lists mass media and mass communications entities, television and radio broadcasters, and producers of audio and video in the state registers.

Until the Federal Registration Service is established the Agency shall be in charge of the registration of mass media entities. All territorial offices of the former Ministry will be subordinated to the Agency.