Holding General Director of Kommersant, Andrei Galiev, and editor of the magazine "Kommersant Vlasta" Maksim Kovalski, were dismissed for allowing the publication of articles containing words offensive against Putin.

"The owner of Kommersant Publishing House, Alişer Usmanov, announced the dismissal of the Director-General of the Kommersant Holding, Andrew Galiev, and editor of the weekly" Kommersant-Vlasta "Maksim Kovalski," announced the online publication Gazeta.ru, which is part of Press the same group. Director General of "Kommersant", Demian Kudriavţev, and resigned. Usmanov, the Russian-Uzbek billionaire, has motivated the dismissal as "last editions of the weekly publication of articles that violate journalistic ethics," writes Gazeta.ru.

The number of 12 December, the magazine "Vlasta" published a report on alleged fraud by the ruling party, United Russia in parliamentary elections on December 4, illustrated, among other things, a photograph of an invalid ballot that is read a message written in red, injurious to Putin. In fact, all number 49 of the magazine was devoted to the analysis results of the vote on 4 December. "These materials are comparable with hooliganism," said oligarch Usmanov.

Pressures of all kinds

Director General of "Kommersant", Demian Kudriavţev, was forced to apologize yesterday. "Kommersant internal procedures and rules, standards of journalism and Russian law had been violated. The management regrets and apology readers and partners," he said. The two dismissed, Galiev and Kovalski, did not comment, but the deputy editor of "Vlasta" Veronika Kutsillo, denied charges of hooliganism. "I do not think it was a challenge. It was a quote," she said. Alişer owner Usmanov, who fears lest Putin to take his business to fleas or worse, to get behind bars, said it could be a lawsuit against the editor in chief of the weekly "Komersant-Vlasta" Maksim Kovalski.

Pressure and intimidation against journalists are common Russians in Russia. And not only allow the dismissal, but go up to assault and even murder. Since Vladimir Putin first came to power in 2000, as president, most important publications have been in the hands of oligarchs competitors in those of interested in will, of necessity, to curry favor with the Kremlin.

The newspaper "Kommersant", one of the most respected journals in Russian, was considered relatively independent until it was sold in 2006 billionaire Usmanov Alişer steel industry, but also has published information on topics that other Russian newspapers are wary. The situation of journalists Russians in the provinces is even more difficult, because the local press is under attack not only from the central authorities, but also local leaders and gangsters.
Censorship protests

If the print media, especially in cyberspace censorship is fooled, on television, it sees and feels best. Last Saturday, after massive protests against Putin and against fraud committed during election-star presenter of television station NTV Russian, Alexei Pivovarova, announced that he refuses to submit news at 19:00 if they are not included in the log and coverage of the demonstrations. Television station management wanted to go over this event as it would not have happened. The news about this incident was given all the "Kommersant".

Refuge on the net

Because the media is dangerous to mess with power of Putin's challengers and his party took refuge on the net. The Internet has become the space for expression of freedom of expression in Russia. Sites like gazeta.ru, an online newspaper that is part of Kommersant Holding, is almost the only means, to the most remote regions, to obtain independent information.
On 20 November has been posted on the Internet a video made by an amateur who surprised him whistled and booed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin apparently hostile spectators in a sports arena. This incident, embarrassing for the most powerful man in the country, four months before the presidential elections through which they intend to return to the Kremlin, was broadcast live, but TV stations censored the redistribution of whistling in the news.

Rating given by Aleksei impetuous, a charismatic campaigner against corruption blogger, United Russia party - "crooks and thieves party" - was taken across the country and find it inscribed on the banners of protesting now.

Power is aware of the power of the Internet, especially after the Arab revolutions and attempts to counter all kinds of ways. In elections Sunday, December 4, several independent sites were blocked, including the media and NGO Golos, which monitored the elections. The list of target site was one radio station Echo of Moscow, the daily "Kommersant", at the weekly "New Times" and interactive website Charter fraud.

"You are ridiculous!"

And President Dmitry Medvedev was facing the other day on Facebook, after the Kremlin leader has written on this social networking site that does not agree with what was shouted during demonstrations Saturday. At least 10,000 comments appeared in a few hours in his message. "Shame!" Was the comment most often posted, along with "You're ridiculous."
And it recently, the Kremlin has accused a member of staff that sent an obscene message on his Twitter account Medvedev. Russian bloggers resumed their message through screenshots, after he was şters.Serviciul Security Federal FSB, former KGB, is aware that the Internet raises awareness and attention confirmed that attaches to this area. In April, the "alert" people that the electronic mail services Gmail and Hotmail and Skype online phone system is a security threat to the country because of their encryption systems.

"I do not think it was a challenge. It was a quote.''
Veronika Kutsillo deputy editor of "Vlasta"

Self-censorship

In Russia, most of these publications unwritten rules of self-censorship, avoiding subjects that might offend Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his men. When the rule is ignored, is retaliation.

Cover the disturbed

On the cover of the weekly, journalists from the magazine "Vlasta" took a picture of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with an overwhelming air and next to a title with a subtle play on words combining words allowing "United Russia" and "fraud at the polls" "Winning by filling ballot boxes."
"Vlasta" published a report on alleged fraud by the ruling party, United Russia, the legislative elections of 4 December.