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All The News That's Not Fit To Print
Recently, the prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, has called some of his country's daily newspapers "prostitutes". This is the most coarse example of leaders of countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Russia expressing hatred for what is termed a 'free press'. Basically there is worry at declining media freedom in Eastern Europe.
A new law which comes into force in Slovakia on the first of June will subject editors to punitive and arbitrary big fines if they do not tow the party line.
Slovakia's new law is the most conspicuous in the region.
However, arbitrary legal, contraints are also a headache in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Defamation of public figures (a broad category which can include important businessmen) is now a crime which can be punished with substantial fines. Journalists can also be sued for 'infringing' somebody's "honour and dignity".
America's ambassador to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, Nicholas Taubman, has said : "Legislators should ... (not be) ... intimidating independent media".
A week ago, the Moscow-based newspaper 'Moskovsky Korrespondent', published a widespread rumour about a supposed relationship between president Vladimir Putin and a comely gymnast, Alina Kabaeva.
After lambasting the tabloid for its 'disgraceful' reporting, the paper was promptly shut down by its publisher.
