Russian court rejects media law

Russian journalists will

Russia's constitutional court has struck down a provision in the country's election law that restricts media coverage of candidates.

The press and opposition politicians had criticised the law, arguing that it would smother freedom of speech in the run-up to December's parliamentary elections.

Part of the law made it impossible for journalists to express opinions about candidates or detail their background.

Reporters and Duma deputies who brought the case said the ruling was a victory for freedom of speech and common sense.

Electioneering

The provision, part of the law's amendments adopted this summer, prevented journalists from "electioneering" - defined as taking positions on candidates and parties, or reporting on their policies.

The court ruled the amendments unconstitutional because they allowed for a broad interpretation "of electioneering and thus do not exclude arbitrary application", according to the Interfax news agency.

This is a huge victory for common sense. I am delighted with the ruling, delighted with its precision and resolve Mikhail Fedotov Russian journalist

Such interpretation "can lead to violations of freedom of speech," the court said.

The court ruled that expressing "a negative or positive opinion" about one candidate or expressing a preference in a separate article such as an editorial was not unlawful.

Mikhail Fedotov, secretary of the nation's journalist union, told Moscow Echo radio: "This is a huge victory for common sense.

"I am delighted with the ruling, delighted with its precision and resolve."

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says the ruling is a victory for those in Russia who are battling to defend democracy at a time when there are growing signs that freedom of speech is under threat.

Campaigning for the parliamentary poll is due to start on 7 November, ahead of the December elections.