The two-day seminar on the Legal Regulation to Audio and Visual Mass Media was held in Ashgabat to study the practice of legal regulation of the mass media in the CIS and European states. The seminar organized by the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EU-funded project on cooperation in media development in Turkmenistan implemented by the BBC World Service Trust brought together the representatives of Turkmen TV and radio channels, newspapers and journals, deputies of the Mejlis, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, the Institute of International Relations and other ministries and departments.

The agenda of the seminar that turned into a lively discussion on the first minutes focused on international legal issues related to the functioning of mass media regulation systems in the age of the Internet and digital technologies, the legal aspects of the establishment of commercial TV channels and print media, etc.

Underlining the significance of the theme under discussion forum participants noted that a key aspect of the ongoing legal reform in Turkmenistan was the implementation of generally recognized international norms and standards into the national legislation. It was particularly noted that legal regulation of mass media would promote democratization of the Turkmen society. In this context participants were briefed on the fundamental norms set forth in international documents and laws of some states in this area.

The international experts from the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Georgia delivered reports and presentations on the major principles of the activity of mass media and the mechanisms of legal regulation of mass media the CIS and Europe countries. Forum participants called for furthering cooperation in the media sector to meet modern realties.