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Article 25 of the Lithuanian Constitution of 25 October 1992 (last amended on 13 July 2004) deals with freedom of expression and information. According to para. 1 of this provision, every individual has the right to have his own convictions and freely express them. Subject to para. 2, nobody should be hindered from seeking, obtaining and disseminating information. Para. 3 states that the freedom to express convictions, as well as to obtain and disseminate information, may not be restricted in any other way than established by law. Such a law must be necessary for the safeguard of the health, honour,...

On 15 April 2004 the Lithuanian Parliament passed a new law on electronic communications. The law is mainly designed to facilitate the transposition of some EU directives in the telecommunications field. In terms of content, it governs issues relevant to the public in connection with electronic communication networks and services, including the institutions and services involved and the use of such electronic communication facilities. It also makes reference to questions of radio equipment, reception devices and electromagnetic compatibility. Furthermore, the law has as its objective the regulation...

During summer and autumn 2003, several draft instruments affecting audio-visual legislation have been released. The draft amendments to the Code of administrative offences allow the imposition of financial sanctions on broadcasters. The application of the Code is regulated by the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public, which states that "for broadcasters who violate the requirements set forth in this Law or who do not comply with the decisions adopted by the Commission, the latter shall impose the following penalties: warnings, fines, in the manner prescribed by the Code of Administrative...

In accordance with the National Acquis Adoption Programme approved by the Lithuanian Government, the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (RTCL) was designated to initiate and prepare amendments to the Law on Provision of Information to the Public, as the latest amendments to reach compliance with EC legislation were made in 2000. At present, the draft amendments are being prepared by the RTCL, which licenses and controls the activities of broadcasters in Lithuania. It is planned that the major amendments will only concern the activities and the control of broadcasters, The present Law...

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recently made public six new reports as part of the second cycle of its monitoring process of the laws, policies and practices to combat racism in the Member States of the Council of Europe. Each of the reports (Andorra (CRI (2003) 2), Azerbaijan (CRI (2003) 3), Liechtenstein (CRI (2003) 4), Lithuania (CRI (2003) 5), Moldova (CRI (2003) 6) and Sweden (CRI (2003) 7)) contains provisions on the media. A recurrent theme in the reports is that of self-regulatory codes of conduct for the media profession. In Andorra, Azerbaijan and Moldova,...