Private police force raids television station

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Russian Minister of the Interior Vladimir Rushailo, Minister of Information Mikhail Lesin and the governor of Lipetsk region, Oleg Korolev, RSF protested the 30 August 2001 takeover of the regional television station TVK, in Lipetsk, by a private police force. “We protest this action, which is clearly aimed at […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Russian Minister of the Interior Vladimir Rushailo, Minister of Information Mikhail Lesin and the governor of Lipetsk region, Oleg Korolev, RSF protested the 30 August 2001 takeover of the regional television station TVK, in Lipetsk, by a private police force.

“We protest this action, which is clearly aimed at silencing a media outlet that is critical of the regional authorities,” stated Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “Moreover, we are concerned by the increasingly frequent use of private police forces, notably against independent media outlets. We ask that you explain to us how these police forces’ increasing freedom of movement is compatible with the respect of the rule of law in the Russian Federation,” added Ménard.

According to information collected by RSF, on 30 August, the Lipetsk offices of the regional television station TVK were raided by armed men acting on behalf of Energuia, a shareholder company of the station, which wants to force a change of management. According to station director Alexandre Lykov, a court decision had previously barred Energuia from calling a shareholder’s meeting, which is needed before any change of management can take place. Under Lykov’s leadership, TVK has been very critical of Korolev, the regional governor. The station’s news programmes were not broadcast on 31 August.

RSF recalls that independent media are the target of ever-growing pressure by federal and regional authorities in Russia. The situation is particularly worrying in the Khakasi (north of Mongolia), Karashayevo-Sherkesi, Upper-Altai (north-east of Kazakhstan) and Udmurti (north of Volga) Republics, and in the Russian regions of Magadan and Smolensk.