Freedom of Information in the Russian Federation

Russia's legal transformation includes significant reforms to freedom of information. The 1993 Constitution gives some entitlements, and these have been supplemented by two important federal laws. The Russian law 'On Personal Data' was enacted as a direct result of Russia joining the Council of Europe and came into force on 1 January 2011. The law 'On Ensuring Freedom of Information in the Activity of State Agencies and Agencies of Local Self-Government' came into force on 1 January 2010. These and other moves towards increased transparency, encouraged by President Medvedev, take Russia further away from her secretive Soviet past, although not without some reluctance.