MOSCOW, December 15 (AVN) - Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev sent an order on obligatory expert estimation of mass media materials to Armed Forces branches' headquarters, main and central departments, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry told the Military News Agency on Friday.
The expert commissions, which were established in all structures of the Defence Ministry, should make this estimation.
This was a result of vague and unchecked information provided by generals and officers who gave interviews on TV and in press without preliminary preparation. They often give data ultra vires, i.e. those data that are in competence of senior officials or staff. In official speeches they often expose restricted information, the military leadership believes.
According to the Defence Ministry, Sergeyev's order does not forbid or limit contacts of military leaders and representatives of mass media.
However it is ambiguously commented in commands and headquarters as follows "generals are forbidden to contact with mass media without special sanctions."