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People & Power
Silent Voices
A look at Russian government control of the media.
Last Modified: 07 Apr 2009 11:31 GMT

Watch part two 

Silent Voices exposes the Russian government's control of the press - and the price some journalists pay for freedom of information. 

The state stands accused by many of covering up the investigation into the well-documented assassination of high-profile journalist Anna Politkovskaya, her death a constant reminder that there are costs for resisting intimidation.

Criticism of government policies has almost disappeared from the air waves, except on Echo Moscow, the last liberal radio station left in Russia.

Aleksei Venedictov, the station's chief editor, wants his young journalists to be more frightened of his standards than the intimidation tactics of the Russian authorities. He faces continuing bombardment from officials to close the station down and an assailant tried to kill him in 2003 after many death threats.

What stands out is that the authorities are not interested in looking for attackers and killers and popular programmes are at risk of being taken off air.

Silent Voices investigates Russia's control over the media, what keeps Echo Moscow going and why journalists continue to put themselves in danger.

This episode of People & Power aired from Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

Source:
Al Jazeera
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