Kremlin backer silences free-speech show

By Susan B. Glasser
The Washington Post

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The state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom on Monday fired NTV's general director and replaced him with Vladimir Kulistikov, head of news programming at the state-run Rossiya channel known for fawning nightly news coverage of President Vladimir Putin.

Kulistikov met Tuesday with "Freedom of Speech" host Savik Shuster and told him the show would be canceled, according to several sources who asked to remain anonymous.

Shuster was told his last show likely would be tomorrow and was offered an off-air post as deputy general director in charge of documentaries, the sources said. "I'm considering their proposal," Shuster said last night.

The apparent demise of "Freedom of Speech" would bring to a conclusion what Russian media analysts have called a long government effort to silence critical voices on the once-outspoken network. Gazprom took over NTV in 2001, causing many journalists to leave in protest of Kremlin interference.

Shuster, former head of the U.S.-government funded Radio Liberty's Moscow bureau, chose to start "Freedom of Speech" — "Svoboda Slova" in Russian — on NTV anyway, hosting live debates on political topics after the evening news.

He clashed with management several times, and he briefly was ordered last year to tape his shows, rather than broadcast live.

"The process of liquidation of nongovernment TV channels that started several years ago has reached its conclusion. The liquidation of 'Freedom of Speech' is the end of this process, full stop," said Igor Yakovenko, head of the Union of Journalists.

"The TV screen looks the same now as in the 1970s, except instead of a party general secretary, we have a president."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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