Free Media in Russia Takes a Beating Putin Style
Posted on April 18, 2008 - Filed Under Putin, Russia |
This story pretty much sums up the power that Vladimir Putin has over Russia these days.
According to Reuters, “A Moscow newspaper that reported Vladimir Putin had divorced his wife and planned to marry an Olympic gymnast was closed by its publishers on Friday, just hours after the Russian president angrily denied the report.”
The report in the Moscow paper stated that Putin had divorced his 50-year-old wife and was prepared to marry a 24-year-old gymnast. Putin issued very strong denial, stating at a press conference, “There is not one word of truth in what you have said,” he told the journalist who asked the question….I have always reacted negatively to those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others’ lives,” he said.
OK, so its a politician denying a private life imbroglio, not much new there. But here’s where things get interesting. After initially defending the story, today were was a sudden abrupt change of thinking by the publishers of the newspaper. Instead of defending the story, they shut down the newspaper, Moskovsky Korrespondent, for “financial reasons.” Hu?
How is it that a newspaper gets shut down for reporting on the private life of its leader?
Such is the ability of Putin, even as his term is about to expire, he remains very much the most powerful figure in Russia. This is not how a free media is supposed to operate in a democracy.
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One Response to “Free Media in Russia Takes a Beating Putin Style”
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perhaps these news papers should stop serving foreign governments’ interests who are trying to destabilize Russia.
if you knew that foreign agents employ your countrie’s media to destabilize your country, and your president didn’t do shit, how would you feel?
anyway, American “way” is not the only “way.”