The issue of publishing decisions of local authorities in regional newspapers

To publish annexes to the decisions of local Councils in regional newspapers or provide a link to the official website – this issue was considered today by the deputies at the plenary online meeting. The reason for the discussion was the law-in-draft of the Grigoriopol city and district council that was submitted to the parliament. It is proposed to amend the law “On local authorities, local self-government and state administration in the PMR”. The essence of this bill is not to publish in the regional newspapers in full the appendices to the decisions of the local authorities, but to limit to one page of the printed edition with the addition of a link to the official website. Chairman of the Council Andrei Kovtun substantiated this proposal on the example of the Druzhba (Friendship) local newspaper. There are 14 settlements in the Grigoriopol district – 14 Councils and heads of administrations, and the newspaper is published only once a week on 8 pages.

Discussing this law-in-draft, the deputies of the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic expressed their opinions on the need, on the one hand to ensure citizens' access to information about the decisions made by local authorities and at the same time free local newspapers from publishing lengthy supplements and give the opportunity to post more news about current events and activities of the region.

The voiced proposals for the second reading will be formed in the form of amendments. The law-in-draft has been passed in the first reading so far.