DRAFT LAW: Defines who is a journalist and prohibits state organizations from operating media outlets

The Association of Journalists and Publicists believes that some provisions in the draft media law are harmful and that the law should be rejected if they are not corrected in further consideration. Among other things, they oppose the provision that requires a journalist to disclose their sources if ordered to do so by a court, they wrote in a press release.

The Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs has submitted a draft law on freedom of the press to the parliament. The draft law defines journalistic activities, media organizations, and journalists for the first time. It also defines the controversial concepts of "fake news" and "blatant false information." At the same time, the law officially designates the MONTSAME agency as a state media outlet and allows it to operate under the President, al…