Russia still has one of the lowest levels...
have an extremely challenging media environment," the survey said.This includes the "consistent inability of the pliant judiciary to protect journalists, increased self-censorship by journalists seeking to avoid harassment, closure of their media outlets, and even murder", as well as the "frequent targeting of independent outlets by regulators."
Freedom House said reporters in Russia suffer from a high level of personal insecurity, with impunity for murderers of journalists being the "norm."
Two journalists and a human rights activist who also worked as a reporter have been killed in Russia over the past two years.
The survey said the state"s control or influence over almost all media outlets in Russia "remains a serious concern."
Other ex-Soviet states - Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine - occupy the lower part of the 29-country rating.