Prior to November 1, 2009, Medvedev demanded amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses — increasing the penalty for selling alcohol to minors, restricting the sale of beer and mixed drinks near children's and sports facilities, as well as at kiosks and in small shops, and making a number of additional restrictions on advertising.
Most of these measures were meant to have been implemented by the end of last year, but none of the bills have been adopted yet. Most initiatives proposed by the president were brought in immediately by United Russia.
However, for example, a bill to ban advertising of beer (proposed on Nov. 24) was rejected by the government because it had no evidence of “the ineffectiveness of existing regulations on the advertising of beer and beer-based drinks,” the conclusion emphasized.
Furthermore, a bill restricting the sale of low-alcohol beverages in public places was sent to a specialist economic committee for revision last week — the definition of the term “public events” was not considered clear enough.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.