London, Nov.29 (ANI): The Kremlin has been accused of launching a campaign to crack down on Russians' access to critical western media.
A former employee of the country's main state-run news agency RIA-Novosti has made the accusation, The Guardian reports.
Last weekend, the news agency reportedly ordered the employee to avoid stories critical of the prime minister, Vladimir Putin, and his United Russia party ahead of the elections.
Following the order, the employee, Grigory Okhotin, resigned his post at Inosmi, a website which translates articles from foreign press sources and is run by the news agency.
"They told me rather clearly not to translate harsh stories about Putin or United Russia," Okhotin said. "Or, they said, you can translate some but soften the headlines and don't put them on the front page." The order came from the RIA-Novosti leadership, Okhotin claimed.
RIA-Novosti spokeswoman, Alla Nadezhkina, said the organisation maintained a "neutral position and objective approach".
Marina Pustilnik, editor-in-chief of Inosmi, refused to confirm or deny the order.
She added: "I recommend you look at the website - there is quite a bit of material on the elections and Putin."
The Kremlin has become increasingly nervous about public support as it prepares for a parliamentary vote on Sunday and presidential elections in the spring.
Polls show a steady decrease in support for United Russia, as well as for Putin, who is expected to return to the presidency after serving four years as premier.
Most Russians get their news from state-run TV, which is curated by Vladislav Surkov, the Kremlin's ideologist and a Putin ally.
But with Internet use skyrocketing, many Russians are turning to the web as an independent source of news. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
