Mr. Chairman
Let me exercise my right to reply.
I would like to stress that, in the present situation, restrictions on Russian speakers in the OSCE area are being imposed first and foremost by the Russian Federation. For instance, it has passed laws to severely limit the freedom of speech and expression, and media freedom, in Russia. Where is the right of Novaya Gazeta, of the TV channel Dozhd, of Radio Ekho Moskvy and many other Russophone medias to use the Russian language freely and independently, as a means of quality journalism?
When the editor of Novaya Gazeta, Dmitry Muratov, was given the Nobel Peace Prize in the autumn, ambassador Lukashevich said that: “The active work of this media resource in Russian is a clear indication that all the conditions are being created in our country for the full development of multidimensional media landscape, where any media outlets opening within the framework of national legislation can freely and independently carry out their professional activities regardless of the specifics of their editorial policy.”
It is hard to see a multidimensional media landscape in Russia now. Last week, unfortunately, Novaya Gazeta had to stop their journalistic work and Mr. Muratov his editorial duties.
It is very important that the population of Russia, both russophone or not, should be granted their rights to the freedom of speech and expression, and the fair and unrestricted access to information.