Ekaterinburg, April 11. Deputy Chairman of the State Duma
of the Russian Federation of the RF, member of the Yabloko faction,
Vladimir Lukin said that he was glad that the TV6 team would be
able to work again "under new banners". He made this
statement at a press conference in Ekaterinburg, where he went
to support the regional branch of YABLOKO at the elections to
the Legislative Assembly in Sverdlovsk Region scheduled for April
14, 2002. However, according to Lukin, "we should wait and
see how Kiselyov's river will flow in Primakov's banks."
Vladimir Lukin also noted that he was not satisfied with the
popularity of regional parties and blocs at local government elections.
Federal parties, according to Lukin, could have had more influence
in the regional legislative assembly. He also said that the victory
of some blocs at different elections was directly dependent on
the degree of the freedom of the press. The Deputy Speaker expressed
his concern at the situation with freedom of speech in the regions.
According to Lukin, the situation with freedom of speech has deteriorated
considerably since the resignation of Boris Yeltsin as President
of the RF. Lukin thinks that this was attributable to attempts
to set administrative control over the press.
Lukin also noted that the bahaviour of a number of governors
towards the regional press resembled that of "local princes",
who try to silence the opposition mass media. "However, I
cannot say this about the Governor of Sverdlovsk Region,"
stressed Lukin.
See also:
TV-6 case
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