Moscow says no thanks to a Chechen proposal that would ban the media from mentioning terrorists' religion

The Russian federal government has expressed its objections to draft legislation proposed by the Chechen parliament that would prohibit the mass media from mentioning the nationality or religious views of terrorists.

Signed by Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Prikhodko, the federal government's official review of the Chechen legislation says “banning the dissemination of information about the nationality or religious beliefs with respect to a particular group (those involved in terrorist activities) does not comply with Article 19 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, according to which the state guarantees equal rights and freedoms to persons and citizens, regardless of race, nationality, religion, or convictions.”

The Chechen parliament proposed the media ban to the State Duma in November 2015. Since then, one Duma committee has indicated its support for the bill, while another committee's review argued that existing regulations already ensure responsible reporting on terrorists.