(GDF/IFEX) – The following is a 1 December 1999 GDF press release: Moscow, December 1, 1999 Kaliningrad: Independent TV/Radio Company “Kaskad” Director Suffers Assault Igor Rostov, General Director of the independent TV/radio company “Kaskad”, suffered an assault in Kaliningrad at 7:30 p.m. (local time) on November 19. Two unidentified persons attacked Mr. Rostov near a […]
(GDF/IFEX) – The following is a 1 December 1999 GDF press release:
Moscow, December 1, 1999
Kaliningrad: Independent TV/Radio Company “Kaskad” Director Suffers Assault
Igor Rostov, General Director of the independent TV/radio company “Kaskad”, suffered an assault in Kaliningrad at 7:30 p.m. (local time) on November 19. Two unidentified persons attacked Mr. Rostov near a garage not far from his home. They beat him on his head with iron bars. Igor Rostov was taken to hospital with a skull injury and a concussion.
The TV company’s administration and employees view the incident as an assassination attempt. The journalist himself believes the attack can be traced to the regional administration towards which Kaskad has been in a state of tough opposition. The newspaper “Kaskad” has repeatedly published articles, and the TV company of the same name has shown video materials criticizing the administration for the overdraft of budgetary funds, its authoritarian management style, and violations of the law establishing a “special economic zone” in the Kaliningrad region. On the day of the assault a high-ranking official warned Mr. Rostov that the administration was plotting a clampdown on him.
This is not the first attack on journalists in the Kaliningrad region. The past two years have witnessed assaults on Igor Rudnikov, editor of the Novye Kolesa (New Wheels) daily; Mikhail Kucheryavenko, press secretary of the Regional Duma, and other journalists reputed to be in opposition to the regional administration. No one has ever been held liable for these crimes.
The Kaskad media holding company headed by Igor Rostov owns three radio stations, two TV channels, and one newspaper.
