Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Moscow's main broadcast tower on May 20 to protest what they called the deterioration of media freedoms on Russia's television airwaves.
Chanting "Down with Putin television!" protesters assembled in northern Moscow and made their way toward the city's Ostankino radio and television tower.
The rally, which attracted some 500 people and a police escort, came amid growing concerns about Russia's media situation as the capital prepares to host an upcoming international journalism conference.
An RFE/RL correspondent at the rally reported that speeches by human rights activists and politicians were directed mainly against state influence on television.
"We are very worried, unhappy about, and are protesting against lies on television; vulgarity on television; lack of professionalism on television; political censorship on television," Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky shouted to the assembled crowd. "We consider this to be very dangerous for the future of our country."
Yabloko, along with the Movement for Human rights and the Moscow Helsinki Group, organized the rally, which was authorized by the authorities and ended peacefully.
'Good' News Only
But the event came in the wake of recent incidents that have led to allegations that the country's media are overwhelmingly being turned into mouthpieces of the government.
On May 18, eight journalists resigned from the Russian News Service in protest against newly imposed editorial policies requiring that news portray the government in a "positive light."
Mikhail Baklanov, who was fired as editor in chief at the service, said people left because "there was no chance to work professionally." The news service reaches millions of listeners by providing news to three major radio stations.
On May 15, the Russian Union of Journalists, which represents more than 100,000 media professionals, was given three days to vacate its offices in central Moscow for allegedly violating the terms of its lease.
The Russian Union of Journalists had been actively engaged in preparations for the International Federation of Journalists World Congress, which is to be held in Moscow from May 28-June 1 and will focus on the issue of press freedom.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
