OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has called on Russian authorities to do their utmost to prevent the shutdown of the regional broadcaster TV-2's terrestrial broadcasts on 1 January 2015 and subsequent loss of a broadcasting license.
TV-2 was notified by the Tomsk provincial branch of the RTRS state-owned national communications network that its transmission services would cease after its contract expired at year's end, despite the fact that TV-2 possesses a valid broadcast license. Reportedly, no sound reason was given.
"Along with a recent de facto advertising ban on cable networks, an issue which I raised in July 2014, this action will threaten the very existence of independent media outlets and critical voices in the Tomsk region," Mijatovic said Tuesday.
In a letter earlier this month, Mijatovic called on the respective authorities to carefully review the incident involving TV-2.
"If enforced, the RTRS decision would effectively endanger media pluralism in the region and set a dangerous precedent aimed at silencing independent voices," Mijatovic wrote.
Mijatovic also noted that all major Russian professional media organizations, including the Russian Union of Journalists and National Association of Television and Radio Broadcasters, raised concern about the issue.
The unilateral action follows a dispute between TV-2 and RTRS earlier this year when the channel was subject to possible broadcast suspension after a malfunction of the transmission equipment owned by RTRS. The issue was quickly resolved after Mikhail Fedotov, Chairman of the Russian Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, and Ella Pamfilova, Human Rights Ombudsperson, raised concern about the matter with the Prosecutor General's Office.
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