EDITORIAL: Preserving freedom of the press in Russia
By:
Posted: 11/25/08
In October of 2006, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot and killed in Moscow. A harsh critic of the Russian government’s human rights record, many believed that Politkovskaya’s murder was politically motivated. This October, the trial of three men accused of plotting her murder began. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that the trial will reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Last Thursday, Judge Yengeny Zubov ordered that the trial be closed to the press, supposedly upon the jury’s request. However, the next day Yevgeny Kolesov, one of the jurors, told a Moscow radio station that no such request had been made. Zubov has made other procedural decisions on false pretenses, and Kolesov’s revelation casts further doubt upon the legitimacy of the proceedings. The Russian Supreme Court have announced an investigation into Zubov’s decision, but unfortunately the problems are systemic, and not specific to this case.
Freedom of the press is a rare commodity in Russia. In 2001, Vladimir Putin’s government and their associates began a program of media censorship. Government allies control all three of Russia’s major television networks. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported on a “so-called stop list, a roster of political opponents and other critics of the government who have been barred from TV news and political talk shows by the Kremlin.” And even opposition media like Echo of Moscow-the radio station that broadcasted Kolesov’s revelation-are regularly subjected to government intimidation.
The decline of journalistic freedom parallels human rights concerns in Russia. Politkovskaya was a vocal critic of Russia’s military involvement in Chechnya, and Echo of Moscow’s latest run-in with the government was caused by their reporting on the conflict in Georgia this summer.
At the Group of Eight meeting this summer, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told then-President Putin that “membership in the G8 club implies very high degrees … of democratic behaviour.” His rhetoric was high-minded, but so far Harper has been all bark, and no bite. If Canada is concerned about human rights, we put some muscle behind our position, and demand that the Russian government respect freedom of the press.
Last Thursday, Judge Yengeny Zubov ordered that the trial be closed to the press, supposedly upon the jury’s request. However, the next day Yevgeny Kolesov, one of the jurors, told a Moscow radio station that no such request had been made. Zubov has made other procedural decisions on false pretenses, and Kolesov’s revelation casts further doubt upon the legitimacy of the proceedings. The Russian Supreme Court have announced an investigation into Zubov’s decision, but unfortunately the problems are systemic, and not specific to this case.
Freedom of the press is a rare commodity in Russia. In 2001, Vladimir Putin’s government and their associates began a program of media censorship. Government allies control all three of Russia’s major television networks. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported on a “so-called stop list, a roster of political opponents and other critics of the government who have been barred from TV news and political talk shows by the Kremlin.” And even opposition media like Echo of Moscow-the radio station that broadcasted Kolesov’s revelation-are regularly subjected to government intimidation.
The decline of journalistic freedom parallels human rights concerns in Russia. Politkovskaya was a vocal critic of Russia’s military involvement in Chechnya, and Echo of Moscow’s latest run-in with the government was caused by their reporting on the conflict in Georgia this summer.
At the Group of Eight meeting this summer, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told then-President Putin that “membership in the G8 club implies very high degrees … of democratic behaviour.” His rhetoric was high-minded, but so far Harper has been all bark, and no bite. If Canada is concerned about human rights, we put some muscle behind our position, and demand that the Russian government respect freedom of the press.
© Copyright 2008 The McGill Tribune
