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On 30 October 2003, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation declared unconstitutional one part of the law that restricts media coverage of election campaigns. The ruling cancels an umbrella clause in the 2002 Federal Statute "On the Basic Guarantees of Voting Rights and the Right to Participate in a Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation", which defined campaigning so broadly that any reporting on a candidate tentially capable of swaying voters. Previously, any detail characterizing a candidate within the pre-election period (of about 3 months prior to the voting day) could...

On 4 July 2003 a federal statute "On amendments and additions to some acts of the Russian Federation" was adopted in connection with the adoption of the federal statute "On basic guarantees of electoral rights of citizens of the Russian Federation and their right to participate in a referendum". The first article of this statute makes changes in the 1991 statute "On the mass media". Article 60 ("Responsibility for other violations of mass media law") of the statute "On the mass media" now introduces responsibility for violation of restrictions relating to canvassing on questions regarding referendums...

On 23 January 2003, the Ministry of Communication and Informatization issued Order No. 7 "on the holding of a competition for the right to use radio frequencies for the purposes of distribution of television programs using MMDS, LMDS and MVDS systems". To participate in such a competition it is necessary to submit an application form. The order approves this form and the format of reports on the results of competition. The order also sets a term of one month, during which the state-run Main Radio-frequency Centre is obliged to provide data on the availability of channels for MMDS broadcasting...

On 12 February 2003, the Government Regulation "About providing access to information on the activity of federal executive bodies" was adopted. With a view towards protecting the rights of citizens and organizations in accessing information, the Regulation approves the "List of data on the activity of the Government of the Russian Federation and of federal executive bodies to be published on information systems of general use". It excludes data considered as state secrets or limited access information . Access to information (among this are details of bills of federal laws, public service vacancies...

The Federal Statute on counteraction of extremist activity was adopted during the spring session of the Federal Assembly and signed by President Vladimir Putin on 25 July 2002. Its passing by the Parliament has attracted much public attention because of the long discussion on the nature and sources of extremism and the role of the mass media in fighting it. The Statute prohibits mass media outlets from carrying out extremist activities and disseminating extremist materials. Article 1 of the Statute defines such kinds of activity as: - Exciting racial, national, religious or social hatred connected...