Russian parliament attacks private TV stations

Deputies in Russia's State Duma, or lower house of parliament, have attacked Russia's Independent television stations for inciting conflict, manipulating public opinion, and broadcating pornography, and bad language, Russian media reported on Friday.

The Duma passed a resolution calling on the government to toughen state regulation of Moscow's NTV and other independent television companies, Ekho Moskvy news agency reported.

The resolution demanded more checks on whether NTV and other TV companies were observing the terms of their broadcasting licences, and called on the government to apply tough sanctions to companies breaking the rules.

Deputies also asked the government to review its contracts with NTV with a view to setting new higher rates for transmitting signals via state transmission centres.

The agency said 227 deputies voted in favour of the resolution.

Moscow NTV reported that the non-binding proposal had been put forward by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, headed by hardline nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovskiy.

The resolution passed by the Duma accused NTV of "actively pursuing a policy of fanning conflict situations and stoking a political confrontation in society," Interfax news agency reported.

"Lies and fact-juggling are being used to manipulate public opinion. Abusive vocabulary is becoming the norm in television programmes," the resolution said.

"Contrary to the traditions and customs of the peoples of Russia, the NTV television company continues unchecked in producing and airing erotic and pornographic programs, openly ignores the religious feelings of the faithful and is making attempts to cause quarrels between Russia and its immediate neighbours," it said, quoted by Interfax.

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