MOSCOW, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A majority of Russians oppose amending a law that grants special protections for journalists, a poll indicates.
Twenty-seven percent of 1,800 Russians surveyed Thursday by Superjob.ru said they support Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's measure to amend the law, which he proposed after Kommersant journalist Oleg Kashin was beaten Saturday. But the other 73 percent said better protection should also be provided to doctors, teachers, servicemen, children and pensioners, RIA Novosti reported.
"First we need to comply with the existing laws, then journalists will feel much safer," said Alexander Arkhangelsky, a TV journalist who opposes the amendment.
Russia is No. 5 on the International Press Institute's ranking of countries most dangerous for journalists, after Iraq, the Philippines, Colombia and Mexico.
No margin of error was provided.
