Russia falls on Press Freedom Index
Reporters Without Borders’ latest index downgrades Russia to 142nd place.
“In Russia the media freedom panorama continues to be gloomy,” the 2012 report reads.
The report continues: “The unprecedented demonstrations in December 2011 augur a period of uncertainty – while some newsrooms seem to be becoming more outspoken, the state’s repressive apparatus has so far been able to cope with the unrest.”
On the positive side, the report says: “The conviction of a couple for the double murder of Anastasia Baburova and Stanislav Markelov raised hopes but aspects of the case remained unclarified and impunity is still the rule for those who mur¬der or attack journalists. Tougher sentences for such crimes and the decriminalization of media offences were both good news but the impact of these reforms remains to be determi¬ned, especially in the absence of an overhaul of anti-terrorist legislation.”
In total, Russia drops two places from becoming No. 140nd on the index last year. In 2012, Russia is ranked in between Gambia (141nd) and Colombia (143rd). Finland is sharing the list’s top ranking with Norway, while Sweden is down to the 12th place.
