The Syndicate-100 Association of Independent Russian Media has opposed the initiative to "assign numbers" to journalists covering the rallies. Information about the possible introduction of QR codes and number tags for media professionals has come shortly before an unagreed rally in support of Alexei Navalny, announced by the politician’s supporters on April 18.
The 7x7 Online Newspaper is publishing the full text of the statement.
"The presidential envoy's offices in Russia are receiving ‘suggestions on the procedure for journalists at rallies and pickets’ on behalf of the Human Rights Council. Although the members of the HRC state they have not even discussed the document, it is portrayed as a ‘guideline to follow’.
The introduction of QR codes and number tags for journalists who cover rallies is the main innovation. Contrary to the Federal Mass Media Law, journalists are divided into two categories: ‘licensed’ — those who have the full right to cover rallies; and ‘not licensed’ that are warned, ‘Your activity at the rally may be perceived as participation.’ That is, detentions, searches and seizures, administrative arrests, and, quite possibly, criminal cases are openly promised. By the way, people who hide their ID cards against the law will issue all these things.
The restrictions are introduced after the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications has tightened the regulations for journalists covering the rallies to the maximum, having forced editorial offices to frantically look for neon green vests and make ‘rally’ press passes.
The media outlets of Syndicate-100 state that all these ‘number tags’, QR codes or ‘ear labels’ have absolutely nothing to do with the law. The powers of a journalist are regulated by the Federal Mass Media Law. Please read the law."