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13.07.2009 How the News is Reported in Russia June-July, 2009 by Andrei Nesterov The two largest state-run television stations in Russia are First Channel and Russia Channel. Most Russians get their news from one of these two stations. SRAS's Andrei Nesterov compiled the following synopsis of how major events were covered by news reports on these two stations. This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. If you would like to request that a story occurring in June be covered here, inform our editor. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up.   Barack Obama Visits Russia Russian TV channels reported that journalists, analysts, and participants all highly estimated the negotiations between Russian and US Presidents in Moscow on July 6-8. National TV quoted spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Nesterenko as saying that the Ministry believes the visit of Barack Obama to Russia was a success. First Channel quoted a few Western journalists' opinions on the subject. Karym Talbi, a former France Press reporter in Moscow, said that after the Bush administration left the office, the tone of negotiations changed. The USA has had to engage itself in negotiations with Russia instead of trying to force its interests on others. On July 7, Russia Channel reported that Russia and the USA agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals substantially and that this agreement would serve as the basis for the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). The channel quoted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as saying at the press conference held after the negotiations, that the two leaders had signed an agreement which allows the two countries to each have from 500 to 1,100 strategic arms carriers, and from 1,500 to 1,675 warheads. Russia Channel stated that although the White House continues to say that America's planned anti-missile system in Europe "has nothing to do with Russia," the first signs that the USA is beginning to understand Russia's point of view could be seen. In an apparent illustration of this statement, the channel showed US President Barack Obama saying that "there is no scenario from our perspective in which this missile defense system would provide any protection against a mighty Russian arsenal." Russia Channel reported favorably on the agreement to all US weapons, equipment, and military personnel to be transported to Afghanistan through Russian territory. The channel says that this "proves that Moscow and Washington are able to tackle global threats together." First Channel reported that on July 7, US President Barack Obama had breakfast with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and then had meetings with Russian businessmen, students, representatives of different parties and organizations. However, neither First Channel nor Russia Channel reported that these included meetings with opposition leaders Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Ryzhkov.   Cherkizovsky Market Shut Down in Moscow On June 22, First Channel reported that the Russian police had stopped a large-scale smuggling operation involving goods from China. Containers with an estimated $30.6 million in illegal products due were to be sold at Cherkizovsky market and other markets in Moscow, but were confiscated by police instead. A week later, on June 30, Russian TV reported that the consumer rights agency Rospotrebnadzor had temporarily closed down Cherkizovsky market. Russia Channel quoted Nikolai Evtikhiev, the Head of the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow, where the market is located, as saying that Rospotrebnadzor had inspected the market and found many instances of goods being improperly stored. This was the grounds for the temporary shutdown of the market. He concluded by stating that it is unknown when the market would be opened again. Russia Channel reported positively on the market closure, saying that two years ago, in 2007, the Moscow city government had promised to close the market, which is notorious for selling counterfeit goods, and, is often the scene of conflicts between criminal gangs. Shortly before the market shutdown, Russia Channel and the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda released investigative reports about underworld activities taking place at the market, such as lodging illegal migrants and selling low quality clothes. After the shutdown, Russia Channel continued its reports, showing detailed plans of the facility and emphasizing that the massive market on the surface is only the "tip of the iceberg," that there several underground levels that are unseen. They are officially used as storage, but the channel also showed police in raids on the underground portions, confiscating goods and pushing ethnic-looking people from rooms that appeared to be make-shift living quarters. On July 7, Russia Channel reported that about 100 sellers of Vietnamese and Chinese origin from Cherkizovsky market tried to block Shelkovskoe Highway, opposite the market in protest against the shutdown, but the police prevented this action and detained fifteen of the protesters. Russia Channel called the clothes which were sold at Cherkizovsky “poisoned goods,” stating that wearing the clothes is harmful for one’s health, and stated that the authorities should put the market operation in good order. The channel stated that while criminal activities and counterfeit goods should be from Cherkizovsky, tax-paying vendors selling goods that hand passed through customs legally should be allowed. Interestingly, the channel also reported on efforts to provide free meals to those who had been displaced by the market closure, showing large pots of soup being distributed outside the market. Groups representing immigrants rights estimate that as many as 30,000 people worked there legally and about 20,000 illegal immigrants were also working there. Later reports have said that the market will be closed for at least ninety days. Most believe that most vendors will not able to reopen after having their business closed for so long.     Russia's Reaction to UN-Imposed Sanctions on North Korea In its report about the UN sanctions on North Korea, Russia Channel quoted Andrei Nesterenko, a spokesman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as saying that "one can just absolutely deplore the fact that a UN member state demonstratively states its refusal to comply with a Security Council resolution." Nesterenko also expressed hope that Russia's "North Korean partners" would choose to a diplomatic path to find mutually acceptable solutions at the Six-Party Talks and the Korean peninsula would continue to be denuclearized. First Channel emphasized the North Korean statement that it would respond militarily to any attempts by the USA or its allies to isolate North Korea. On Russia's official reaction to the crisis, the channel briefly reported on June 11 that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference with his German colleague Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier that tensions were increasing in Northeast Asia. The two diplomats called on the world community to respond to this situation immediately.   Renewal of Russia-NATO relations On June 28, Russia Channel reported that the meeting of Russia-NATO Council on Greek island of Corfu had resulted in the renewal of relations between Russia and the military bloc. Russia Channel quoted NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as saying that Russia and NATO need each other, and the parties agreed to renew the cooperation in the areas of fighting terrorism piracy, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and drug trafficking. Russia Channel also reported that there was still no progress between the two on "issues concerning the Caucasus region," meaning the war with Georgia and Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. The report quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying that Russia and the majority of NATO countries different opinions on the matters. Sergey Lavrov suggested that "everybody should, probably, accept the new reality" and stated that Russia's decision on recognizing the independence of the two regions is irreversible. First Channel in its report stressed that NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer had said that it is impossible to fight such threats as terrorism, drug trafficking and sea piracy without Russia, and the contradictions on the issue of Georgia should not prevent further cooperation between Russia and NATO. In related news, Russia Channel reported on July 1 that the two Canadian diplomats from NATO information Bureau left Moscow at the end of June. Russia cancelled their accreditation as a response to NATO's cancellation in April of the accreditation of two Russian diplomats on grounds that they were spying.    Vladimir Putin Condemns Price of Pork According to First Channel, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to a local Moscow discount supermarket because he wanted to "research a government bill on trade" by research the retail margin on groceries. The bill is aimed at stimulating local food production. According to Russia Channel, the managers of the store first tried to persuade the Prime Minister that they add only a minimal profit margin, but Vladimir Putin had doubts if these assurances were true. After checking the purchase price lists, he criticized the store when he saw that pork was marked up 120%. The store manager responded that he would lower the prices the next day. Later, at the government meeting on June 24, Vladimir Putin praised the great variety of the groceries in the store, but said that the prices are too high as it is hard to imagine that a country with developed social and economic system may have seller's margin of 70% and more. For its part, Perekrestok, the chain visited by Putin, has announced that it will be holding a major sale in July. Russia Channel quoted Putin as saying that the bill on trade will soon be submitted to the State Duma, and the bill will create the basis for "a civilized interaction in the entire trade chain, from producers to consumers." Russia imports most of its meat and prices have been hard hit by the fall in value of the ruble, leading to greater efforts to stimulate domestic agriculture.   Death of Michael Jackson Russian national TV channels issued many reports on the death of famous singer Michael Jackson. Russia Channel in its report called Jackson "the king of pop music" and stated that "he lived and died as Elvis Presley did." Meanwhile, the TV channels refrained from quoting the letter released by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who had said that the singer "stood up to the attacks aimed at discrediting his reputation but, as a true Muslim should, endured the ordeals firmly and with wisdom." The letter was only quoted by Russian news agencies, including RIA-Novosti. Jackson never confirmed or denied rumors that he had converted to Islam. Russia Channel reported that Muscovites brought flowers to the US Embassy in Moscow to honor the legendary singer. "Michael Jackson died as an unhappy, sick, and lonely man, thus proving that money does not guarantee happiness, and the public image of a singer is never the same as his real personality," Russia Channel summed up its report.   Iranian Elections First Channel did not quote any opinions of Russian politicians in its report on the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Iranian presidential elections. Meanwhile, on June 13 the channel reported that the US leaders positively estimated the elections, and quoted President Barack Obama as saying that the fact that "there's been a robust debate hopefully will help advance the US ability to engage Iranians in new ways." A day later, on June 14, when Russian TV channels started reporting about the rallies of opposition in Iran, provided information without stating any opinions. On June 20, Russia Channel criticized the opposition members who were seeking confrontation with the police by yelling "Death to dictator!" However, when the confrontation escalated on June 22, First Channel issued a report denouncing the Iranian authorities, stating that more than twenty foreign reporters had been arrested in Iran since the beginning of the protests, and saying that Iran's tough actions and suppression of journalists caused criticism all over the world. In addition, First Channel predicted that a continuation of the confrontation may result in a serious political crisis in Iran, and Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani may replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the Islamic Revolution Leader in Iran. Russia TV's weekend program "Vesti" featured a political analyst on June 21 who stated that the events in Iran strongly resembled those of the "color revolutions" that had occurred in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He stated that these events consisted of members of the political minority, who had lost the elections but were encouraged by foreign sources, took to the streets to take political power by force.   Ingushetia President Injured in Assassination Attempt On June 22, the President of Ingushetia Yunusbek Yevkurov was injured when a car bomb exploded near his motorcade. Ingushetia is a republic within the Russian Federation. On that day, First Channel reported that the President's driver was killed in the attack and two bodyguards were injured. One body guard later died. The channel also reported that the President was in condition was "moderately severe," and that he had had surgery and is being treated in The Central Clinical Hospital of the Ingush capital Nazran. In continuing coverage, the channel has reported that the president was airlifted to a Moscow hospital and showed President Medvedev meeting with his doctors to discuss his condition.  Soon after the assassination attempt, First Channel broadcast a meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with Rashid Nurgaliev, Russia's Interior Minister and Aleksandr Bortnikov, the Director of Federal Security Service. President Medvedev said that the assassination attempt had been performed by "bandits" who were taking vengeance on Ingushetia's president for the tough measures he had taken against the terrorist underground in the republic. Also, Russian TV channels broadcast the meeting of Dmitry Medvedev with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who assured the Russian President that terrorism in the region would be crushed in the nearest future.   Dismissal of Ukrainian Ambassador On June 11, Russia Channel reported that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had dismissed Victor Chernomyrdin from his post as the Russian Ambassador to Ukraine, and appointed him to a post of Presidential Aide. The reasons for dismissal were not named, but the channel quoted Andrei Paruby, A Deputy serving in Ukraine's Rada as part of the "Our Ukraine – People's Self-Defense," block as saying that Chernomyrdin "was building hostility" between Russia and Ukraine by making straightforward statements criticizing the Ukrainian leadership. Chernomyrdin is widely known in Russia for his colorful language and relatively frequent faux-pas in official statements. Russia Channel called Victor Chernomyrdin "the most impressive ambassador" and stated that he had been given the opportunity to announce his dismissal himself, before any official announcement, as a sign of special respect. First Channel stated that Chernomyrdin was not liked in Ukraine because he did not care about making smooth statements, as professional diplomats do.   Russia Day Russia Channel reported on June 13 that the celebration of Russia Day took place without any serious incidents or violations of public order. The channel quoted police statistics that 2,190 public events took place during Russia Day, with 3.1 million participants. Russia Channel dedicated a special report to the flag-raising ceremony at Ostankino Tower in Moscow. The tower has been an iconic part of Moscow's landscape for decades and is still used to broadcasting television and radio signals. It was closed to public for several years after several fires called its safety into question, but has been recently reopened. There has not been the state flag on the tower in seventeen years. The flag of the Soviet Union was removed from there in December 1991, Russia Channel stated. That flag is currently on display in a museum at the base of the tower. There were no reports about the rallies of opposition or nationalists on Russia Day. Meanwhile, some online opposition media such as Grani.ru reported about a rally of a small group of opposition members, which took place in St. Petersburg on June 12.   Study Journalism in Russia The Library: Politics in Russia SRAS Resources for Teachers   Find out more! SRAS Travel Services More Study Abroad Programs Internships in Russia Heath and Safety in Russia The SRAS Newsletter Journal for Students More Free Resources! Questions or comments? Contact the editor « back to News archive print this page email this page