All around! One, two...

The State Duma will not approve amendments to the law on the media that increase the latter’s liability for libel. Chairman of the State Duma, leader of the United Russia faction Boris Gryzlov said that the parliamentary majority decided not to support the amendment of United Russia deputy and former press secretary of the Nashi youth movement Robert Schlegel in the second reading.

The amendments proposed by Schlegel should have allowed officials to close any media outlet “for libel” without trial. It must be said that on April 25, in the first reading, the Duma adopted the outrageous law almost unanimously. And then suddenly they changed their minds.

Strange thoughts may come to the mind of an outside observer: maybe the deputies realized that this law would finally strangle freedom of speech in Russia, maybe the United Russia members were afraid of betrayal of the spirit of democracy and liberalism, or maybe they were convinced by the conclusion of the Public Chamber? No - as always, everything is simple. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev called the amendments “premature.” The time has not yet come...