Russia: Radio Ekho Moskvy fears for its future
As one of the last bastions of freedom of expression in Russia, the anti-Kremlin broadcaster Ekho Moskvy fears for its future. Under pressure from the state-controlled holding company Gazprom-Media, the editor-in-chief resigned from his position on the station's board of directors.
However, Alexei Venediktov will remain in office as editor-in-chief, Venediktov announced on Tuesday. Less than three weeks before the presidential election, Kremlin candidate and head of government Vladimir Putin had his spokesman deny that the critical stance of the broadcaster was the reason for the change in the board of directors.
Gazprom-Media, a company owned by Gazprombank, which is controlled by the state energy giant Gazprom, is the main shareholder of the channel, which is otherwise owned by the journalists and Venediktov, with a 66 percent stake. At a meeting with Venediktov in January, Putin made unusually crude remarks about the broadcaster. "Am I angry with you when you pour diarrhea over me from morning to night," the head of government said.
Important for everyone
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "unfortunately it has to be said that this criticism is often dominant at Ekho Moskvy". Nevertheless, this has never been an obstacle to an objective relationship between the head of government and the station's management. He warned against linking business decisions at the station with politics. In contrast, reporters critical of the Kremlin and the opposition were convinced of political reasons. Ekho Moskvy announced that it intended to stick to its editorial line.
Info-Radio is considered one of the most important sources of political information in Russia. Media experts explain the "survival" of the channel, which is critical of the Kremlin, by the fact that the state leadership also wants to know what is actually being thought in the country. (SDA/DPA)
