Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Postimees, Õhtuleht and Äripäev issues on Thursday featured blank front pages, others some other page.

“This will be the future of the Estonian press when the Riigikogu approves of the so-called press sources protection law 656 SE, submitted by Justice Minister Rein Lang,” declares Eesti Päevaleht. “The bill would enable to imprison investigative journalists, oblige them to reveal the names of sources that gave information and fine publications just as a warning before they publish a revealing article,” the daily claims on its page that is generally meant for opinion articles.

Both the Newspaper Association and Journalists Union have protested against the bill.

Minister Lang has said that the law amendment is aimed at setting limits to press sources protection that is not determined now and liquidate this gap in legislation. The current criminal proceedings code doesn’t determine sources protection of journalists and there is complete testimony obligation at present. Source protection is written only into broadcasting law but with a clause that the court can demand this data at any moment, he has said.

The bill will reach Riigikogu full assembly session on April 7.