Must-see viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in Russia or the muzzling of the free press.
It's Leonid Parfenov -- a popular former NTV host who was fired in June 2004 for violating his employment agreement, which obligated him "to support the company leadership" -- speaking at a ceremony for an award named after slain journalist Vladislav Listyev.
He begins with a reference to the latest operation on journalist Oleg Kashin, who was savagely beaten by unknown assailants, and goes on to indict a situation in which Russia's political leadership serves as puppetmaster and independent media are ruthlessly extirpated.
We're looking into the accuracy of the translation and other circumstances -- for instance, the claim that the speech was censored and didn't air in its entirety.
-- Andy Heil
It's Leonid Parfenov -- a popular former NTV host who was fired in June 2004 for violating his employment agreement, which obligated him "to support the company leadership" -- speaking at a ceremony for an award named after slain journalist Vladislav Listyev.
He begins with a reference to the latest operation on journalist Oleg Kashin, who was savagely beaten by unknown assailants, and goes on to indict a situation in which Russia's political leadership serves as puppetmaster and independent media are ruthlessly extirpated.
We're looking into the accuracy of the translation and other circumstances -- for instance, the claim that the speech was censored and didn't air in its entirety.
-- Andy Heil