Bashkortostan Parliament adopted first law on military journalists in Russia

The bill provides for state support for military journalists of the republic, defines the status of this category of media workers, specifically veterans of military journalism, and establishes social guarantees for them and their families.

It is planned to introduce payments to the relatives of deceased war correspondents and journalists who were injured in the performance of their official duties. The republican government will determine the specific list of support measures, it was clarified at the final meeting of the spring session of parliament.

The bill does not apply to foreign agents and persons affiliated with them, individuals involved in extremist crimes, employees of commercial publications, and a number of other categories.

According to Rustam Ishmukhametov, Chairman of the State Assembly Committee, there is no such law in Russia yet that would provide for state support measures for workers “risking their health to convey truthful information to people.” As Rustam Ishmukhametov emphasized, it is essential to strengthen the rights of journalists working in the territory of the SMO and other hotspots, to define the status of military journalists, workers in military journalism, and veterans of military journalism in Bashkortostan, and to establish measures of state support. Social guarantees are also provided for family members of deceased military journalists.

“A certificate of a veteran of military journalism of the Republic of Bashkortostan is being introduced, which is a documentary basis for compliance with state support measures. Today, 11 media workers from the republic have been sent on assignments from editorial offices to the SMO zone. If the total volume of work of a journalist is more than 60 days, then, accordingly, he falls under the provisions of this law. Of course, expenses will be required from the budget of the Republic of Bashkortostan,” Rustam Ishmukhametov summed up at a meeting of the State Assembly.

Author: Galina Bakhshieva