FEATURES OF THE MODERN CRIMINAL LEGISLATION OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBSTRUCTION OF THE LEGAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF JOURNALISTS

Abstract

The processes of globalization taking place all over the world affect all spheres of society, including the information sphere of activity. One of the characteristics of modern society is the constant exchange of information through various types of communication (personal conversation, receiving various kinds of news from newspapers, radio and television communications, the Internet, etc.). As a result of such communication, such rights of citizens as the right to information, the right to freedom of thought and speech are realized. By disseminating information, the mass media contribute to the creation of an objective picture of reality among citizens, provoke the participation of members of society in the socio-economic development of the country. It is journalists who are the “assessors” of events taking place all over the world. However, both in Russia and in
the world, their rights are increasingly infringed, which means that in order for journalists to be able to fully work, their rights must be guaranteed. As for the protection of journalists, the current criminal legislation of the Russian Federation establishes only one element of the crime, the victim of which is a journalist who carries out legal professional activities. Only the legal professional activities of journalists are subject to protection, in accordance with Article 144 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and obstruction of such activities means forcing journalists to disseminate or to refuse to disseminate information. The current version of the disposition of this article cannot be called sufficiently successful, this wording constantly gives rise to discussions among law enforcement officers, and the criminal law norm itself rarely finds its application in practice, all this prompts us to study the features of the criminal legislation of foreign countries on liability for obstructing the legitimate professional activities of journalists for its improvement.