MOSCOW, May 20 (RAPSI) - Representatives of the Russian mass media have convinced officials and State Duma lawmakers - who met to discuss a set of strict new amendments to the Civil Code - to allow the media to publish personal information not otherwise categorized as "private," according to a report by Russian newspaper Vedomosti.

A large group of amendments directly related to the media was submitted to the State Duma by then President Dmitry Medvedev last spring.

The Civil Code currently prohibits the unsanctioned publication of information relating to the origin, place of residence, and personal and family life of private individuals. A set of new amendments approved by the relevant Duma committee for the second reading would have added to the list "other facts" about individuals, effectively prohibiting the media from mentioning individuals' official positions, jobs, the universities they graduated from, and other information, without permission.

Media and Duma representatives have agreed that the term "other facts" will be excluded and that the limitation period will not be extended either, according to State Duma Deputy Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak.

It was also proposed that any person or company who is dissatisfied with a publication may complain to the media outlet in question, whose editorial board would be obliged to provide proof of the reliability of their information.

The newspaper writes that the sides have reviewed the wording so that the media will only be obliged to provide proof of reliability of information considered defamatory.