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SUPREME SOVIET OF THE LITHUANIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

SUPREME SOVIET OF THE LITHUANIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC SUPREME SOVIET OF THE LITHUANIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC Law On the Press and other Mass Media Chapter 1 General Provisions Article

  1. Freedom of the Press Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania shall enjoy the right to freely and without hindrance to express their views and opinion, to disseminate news in the press and by other mass media, to acquire from them objective information on every issue of state and public life. Mass media is free and uncensored. Interference with their activities in preparing and disseminating information is forbidden. Article
  2. Mass Media As used in this law, mass media means newspapers, magazines, books, bulletins, and other periodic and onetime publications, the circulation of which exceeds 100 copies and is meant for public circulation, television and radio programmes, newsreels, reports of information agencies, audiovisual recordings and programmes, which are being prepared and circulated by the state, political, or public organisations of the Republic as well as by the public movements or citizens of the Republic of Lithuania. Mass media shall be represented by publishers, editorial offices of newspapers, magazines, television and radio, editors, information agencies, publishing houses, and other institutions preparing and disseminating mass information. Mass media may be a legal person. This law shall not regulate public relations emerging pursuant to the enactment of legislative acts, acts issued by state power and government body, and by departmental acts. Article
  3. Basic Principles of the Activities of Mass Media Mass media shall freely prepare and disseminate information. In their activities they shall guide themselves by the values of humanism, equality, tolerance, respect for an individual and by other universal values, shall facilitate the development of democracy and publicity, shall promote the progress of society and the State. Article
  4. The Right to Acquire Information State, political, public organisations, public movements, and their leaders shall furnish information for mass media, with the exception of information which pursuant to Article 6 of this law is not available to the public. Information shall be furnished in the state language of the Republic of Lithuania or in the language acceptable to both parties. Article
  5. The Language of Mass Media On the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, mass media shall prepare and disseminate information in the Lithuanian language and as necessary -in other languages, too. Mass media must comply with the legislative acts regulating the use of the state language of the Republic of Lithuania. Ethnic minorities shall be guaranteed the right to acquire, prepare, and disseminate information in their native language according to the procedure established by law. Article
  6. Nonpublicly Available Information and Information the Dissemination of which shall be Restricted (Amended 9 April 1992) Mass media shall be forbidden to disclose state secrets the list of which shall be determined by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The Government may establish other restrictions necessary for the protection of the interests of the Republic of Lithuania and the rights of its citizens. It shall be forbidden to disseminate information instigating war, violence, national or religious hostility as well as to produce, distribute or demonstrate works of pornography(Amended 9 April 1992). It shall be forbidden to disseminate information concerning a person's private life without his consent, with the exception of information established by court. It shall be forbidden to disseminate information concerning a preliminary investigation without written consent of a prosecutor, investigator, or a person who conducted interrogation. Upon elucidating legal process, it shall be forbidden to publish articles violating the presumption of innocence or which may have influence on the court's decision. The procedure for the dissemination of erotic publications and publications propagating violence, public demonstration of such motion pictures and video programmes shall be established by The Government of the Republic of Lithuania (Amended 9 April 1992). Chapter 2 The Establishment of a Mass Media, the Suspension or Termination of its Activities Article
  7. The Right to Establish a Mass Media State, political, public organisations and public movements, creative unions and scientific societies, religious, cooperative, and other organisations of the Republic of Lithuania as well as citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who are 18 years of age and older and residing on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania shall enjoy the right to establish a press media. A publisher may at any time terminate or reorganise the activities of a press media. Article
  8. Registration of a Mass Media A mass media shall be registered with the Government of the Republic of Lithuania within a month from the day of the filing of the application. The application concerning the establishment of a mass media must state: 1) publisher ( organisation, movement, citizen); 2) the address and name of a mass media as well as the language in which information shall be disseminated; 3) purpose of a mass media; 4) the territory on which the main portion of the output of a mass media is intended to be distributed; 5) periodicity of the publication and its volume. An application fee shall be imposed in the amount established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Upon registering a press media, the publisher shall be issued a document, certifying the foundation of a press media. The publisher of a press media shall have the right to start its activities within a year from the day the certificate has been issued. Within three days the publisher shall inform the organisation which has registered a press media about the publishing of the publication. Obligatory copies of a publication must be furnished to libraries and other organisations in the manner established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
  9. Publishing Activities not Subject to Registration A press media shall not be registered if the publishing activities are carried out by the state power and governmental bodies by publishing legal acts or other material necessary for their work. A mass media is not subject to registration if its production is not meant for public circulation. Article
  10. Refusal to Register A mass media may be refused registration if: 1) the application was filed not in conformity with Articles 7 and 8 of this law; 2) fraudulent data is provided in the application; 3) a person was earlier sentenced to imprisonment for a deliberate serious crime; 4) a person is legally incapable; 5) a mass media under the same name is already registered and is carrying out its activities on the same territory; 6) application fee is not paid; Upon refusal to register a mass media, the applicant must be informed about it in writing within five days, stating the reasons for refusal. Article
  11. Suspension of Activities Having disseminated nonpublicly available information specified in Article 6 of this law, the activities of a mass media may be suspended,i.e. it is prohibited to publish one or several issues of the publication, or the order may be given to discontinue radio or TV broadcasting programmes. The organisation which has registered a mass media shall have the right to suspend its activities for a period of up to one month. The activities shall be suspended not later than within three days after such information was disseminated. In the activities of a mass media there may be a break not exceeding one year. Article
  12. Termination of Activities The organisation which has registered a mass media may terminate its activities provided: 1) this law has been continuously violated and a publisher was warned three times within a year. A warning concerning the violation of the law may be issued by the organisation which has registered a mass media. The suspension of its activities shall be considered as a warning; 2) this law has been seriously violated causing heavy consequences or if it may cause heavy consequences; 3) a mass media has not been functioning for more than one year. The activities of a mass media may be terminated not later than within three months from the day when one of the reasons specified in this article emerge. The activities of a mass media shall be deemed terminated, if the publisher has not appealed against the decision to terminate its activities to court within ten days. In the contrary case the activities shall be deemed terminated from the day when the court's decision comes into force. The terminated activities of a mass media may be resumed only in the manner provided for in Articles 7 and
  13. Article
  14. Appealing against the Decision A publisher may within ten days appeal against the refusal to register a mass media or the termination of its activities to court. Upon deeming these decisions unlawful, the organisations which has adopted them must refund a mass media the material damages. Chapter 3 The Organisation of Activities of a Mass Media Article
  15. Economic and Financial Activities of a Mass Media Economic and financial activities of a mass media shall be regulated by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
  16. The Management of a Mass Media A mass media shall be managed by the publisher or the person appointed by him. Each periodical publication must have an editor. Only a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania may be an editor. An editor shall be appointed or removed from office by the publisher under the labour laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Article
  17. A Publisher and a Press Media A press media shall implement the publisher's programme independently. Economic, financial and other relations between a publisher and a press media shall be regulated on a contractual basis. Article
  18. An Editor and an Editorial Staff (Editorial Collegium) The procedure for the formation of an editorial staff ( editorial collegium) and the powers thereof shall be established by the regulations of an editorial office. The editorial office shall be managed by an editor who is responsible for the observance of this law. Article
  19. The Preparation of Publications A mass media shall analyse and publish letters and other works furnished to them on its own discretion. Works of journalism, literature, science, art or other works shall be used in conformity with the laws on copy right. Article
  20. Data Pertaining to a Publication Each publication should include the following data: 1) the title of a publication; 2) the publisher ( organisation, full name of a person); 3) the language of the publication; 4) the current number of the publication and the date of its issuance; 5) the price; 6) address of the editorial office; 7) name and address of the printing house; 8) number of the foundation certificate of a mass media; 9) the editor. The publication shall also include other data required under state standard. Television and radio station shall announce its name and a full name of the broadcaster. Article
  21. The Distribution of Mass Information The output of a press media shall be distributed by the publisher, as well as state and public organisations, or separate individuals under the contract with the publisher. A mass media which has not been registered is prohibited to produce and distribute its output. It shall be allowed to multiply and circulate printed or other information which has been made available to the public only if it does not violate the author's or publisher's rights and legitimate interests. The multiplied information must state the source from which the information was multiplied, who and when did it, as well as the address where it was multiplied. Article
  22. Official Reports Official reports of state power and governmental bodies shall be disseminated by a mass media free of charge and at the time fixed by them. Court decisions and decrees of state arbitration must be made available to the public by a mass media free of charge. Article
  23. Suspension of Distribution If the publication contains information which is nonpublicly available under Article 6 hereof, the distribution of such publication shall be suspended by the organisation which has registered a mass media. A mass media may appeal against this decision to court, which must investigate the case within 5 days. If the court finds the suspension of the distribution groundless, the organisation that has adopted such decision must refund a mass media the material damage caused by suspension. Article
  24. The Preservation of Information The editorial office of television and radio must preserve the records of broadcasted information for no less than 6 months from the day it was broadcasted. The publisher must preserve copies of published material for no less than one year from the day its distribution was started. Article
  25. Denial State political, or public organisations, public movements and individual persons shall have the right to deny information disseminated by a mass media if it does not correspond with reality, impair their dignity and self-esteem. The denial should indicate information not corresponding with reality, by whom and when it was disseminated. A mass media must without delay publish the denial in the press or by other means make it available to the public, if it cannot prove that the information corresponds with reality. If a mass media refuses to deny disseminated information, an individual or organisation shall have the right to demand the denial of such information in court provided a mass media fails to prove that it corresponds with reality. A mass media may refuse to deny the disseminated information provided: 1) it is demanded to deny facts established by the enforced decision or sentence of the court; 2) information for the dissemination of which a mass media is not responsible under Article 34 hereof is denied; 3) information has been already denied in the manner established by this law. Article
  26. The Secrecy of the Source of Information A mass media must not disclose the source of information and has no right to make known the name of a person who furnished information, without his consent. The source of information may be disclosed only on the demand of the bodies of investigation or the court of law, if it is necessary for the investigation of a legal case. Chapter 4 Rights and Duties of a Journalist Article
  27. Journalism As it is used in this law, journalist means a person who writes, gathers, edits or otherwise prepares the material for a mass media and has concluded a contract with it or performs this work at behest of a mass media or is a member of the Journalists' Union. Article
  28. Rights of Journalists A journalist shall enjoy the right : 1) to gather information and to make it available to the public; 2) to refuse to write or publish the material contradicting his beliefs; 3) to refuse to sign the material submitted by him if the contents of this material was distorted in the process of editing. 4) to make notes as well as to use audiovisual means, to film, take pictures or otherwise record information. It is forbidden to prevent a journalist from carrying out his duty. Article
  29. Refusal to Provide Information State, political or public organisations and public movements, their leaders may refuse to provide information which is nonpublicly available under Article 6 hereof. Refusal shall be submitted to a representative of a mass media in writing not later than within three days and must state the reasons for doing so. Article
  30. Appeal against the Refusal to Provide Information Refusal to provide information may be appealed against to the higher official or in court. Article 30 Duties of Journalists A journalist who is employed a mass media must: 1) provide objective information; 2) provide the name of the author of the material which is made public for the first time if a person who submitted it requests for doing so; 3) receive the consent of a person or his legitimate representatives to disseminate information by a mass media concerning his private life. The consent shall not be needed if this is necessary for defending the rights and legitimate interests of the state, society or an individual; 4) inform the editor if the dissemination of information is equal to the disclosure of the state secret or other secret protected by law; 5) refuse to fulfill editor's order if it violates the law; 6) respect the rights and legitimate interests of individuals, state or public organisations, to observe the norms of professional ethics. Article
  31. Accreditation Mass media, upon agreement with state, political, or public organisations and public movements may accredit to them their journalists. A journalist shall participate in sessions, conferences or other events organized by the organisation that has accredited him, shall be provided with short hand and other records or other documents in the manner established by that organisation. Journalists of foreign mass media shall be accredited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may terminate the accreditation of journalists if they violate the Constitution or other laws of the Republic of Lithuania, systematically prepare and disseminate distorted information on the life in Lithuania or impairs its interests. Chapter 5 Responsibility for the Violation of the Law on the Press and other Mass Media Article
  32. Responsibility Persons guilty of the production and distribution of the output of a mass media that has been refused registration, the disclosure of the secret of the source of information , prevention of a journalist to perform his professional duty, refusal to provide the journalist with information, dissemination of distorted information, impairing the self-esteem and dignity of an individual, disclosure of state or other secrets protected by law, as well as for the dissemination of forbidden information specified in part 2 of Article 6, and for the violation of the procedure established by the Government for the dissemination and public demonstration of publications and programmes provided for in part 5 of Article 6 shall be subject to responsibility prescribed by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania (Amended 9 April 1992). Article
  33. Compensation for a Moral Damage A mass media which has disseminated information on the private life of a person without his consent, or information not corresponding with reality and impairing his self-esteem and dignity, on the decision of the court shall compensate him for the inflicted moral damage. The amount of the compensation for the inflicted moral damage shall be assessed by court, but in any case it cannot exceed 30 000 rubles. Article
  34. Exemption form Responsibility Publishers of press media, editors, journalists, authors shall not be responsible for the dissemination of information not corresponding with reality if such information: 1) was provided in official documents and reports of state power and government bodies, political and public organisations, public movements ; 2) quote speeches delivered in public; 3) was received from other information agencies. Chapter 6 International Cooperation in the Sphere of Mass Information Article
  35. International Treaties and Agreements International cooperation between mass media shall be regulated by treaties and agreements concluded by mass media of the Republic of Lithuania, professional organisations of journalists, other creative unions. If an international treaty or agreement provides for other rules than this law, the rules prescribed by an international agreement shall be applied . A.Brazauskas Chairman Presidium Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania L.Sabutis Secretary Presidium Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania Vilnius 9 February 1990 No. XI-3670

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