Russian journalists may require accreditation to observe elections at polling stations
Russian Duma Deputy Dmitry Vyatkin has proposed amendments to legislation that would require journalists to be accredited in order to cover election day news at the polling stations, as reported by Vyatkin, the Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building, to the Gazeta.ru news site.
The amendments wouldn’t allow candidates and non-profit organizations to send their observers to the polling stations under the guise of media staff. Only reporters or journalists employed by media outlets under contract for no less than two months before the election campaign will able to pass the accreditation process, Vyatkin said.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law limiting the number of observers from political parties and candidates in polling stations.