Russian censorship in the Second Chechen War

Last updated

Since the start of the Second Chechen War in 1999, Russian federal authorities are alleged to have implemented a plan to use legal and extralegal methods to limit media access to the conflict region. [1]

Contents

Chechen conflict

The Russian government's control of all Russian television stations and its use of repressive rules, harassment, censorship, intimidation [2] and attacks on journalists, including the kidnapping of Radio Liberty correspondent Andrei Babitsky by the Russian military, almost completely deprived the Russian public of the independent information on the conflict. Local journalists in Chechnya face intense harassment and obstruction, [3] while foreign journalists and media outlets are pressured into censoring their reports on the conflict, [4] making it nearly impossible for journalists to provide balanced coverage of Chechnya.

Since 2001, with the headlines dominated by news of the Israeli-Arab conflict and the U.S.-led War on Terrorism, the conflict has been almost completely forgotten by the international media. [5] Few Russian journalists continue to cover the Chechen conflict, and even fewer dare to criticize the government, instead choosing self-censorship. [6]

In 2005, the Duma passed the law making the journalists being able to have access to and publish information about terrorist attacks only with permission from those directing counter-terrorist operations. [4] On August 2, 2005, responding to the airing of an interview with Shamil Basayev, Moscow banned journalists of the American Broadcasting Company network from working in Russia. [7]

In 2006, the Duma approved the Law on Fighting Extremist Activity, broadening the definition of "extremism" to include media criticism of public officials and provide for imprisonment of up to three years for journalists and the suspension or closure of their publications. [8] The law was used that same year to shut down the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society [9] and convicted its executive director Stanislav Dmitrievsky of "extremist" activities. [10]

Also in 2006, Moscow journalist Boris Stomakhin was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "inciting ethnic hatred" in his reports about the conflict in Chechnya. [11] On 7 October 2006, Anna Politkovskaya, Russian journalist and political activist well known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and Russian authorities, was shot dead in Moscow in an apparent contract killing.

In March 2007, a Levada Center poll asked Russians how they thought the situation in Chechnya was covered in the Russian media: 49 percent said they thought the coverage does not give a clear sense of what is happening, while 28 percent said it is not objective and "hides" the problems that exist there. Only 11 percent said they were happy with media coverage of Chechnya. [12]

In September 2007, police and security forces in the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia were issued orders to stop informing the media of any "incidents of a terrorist nature." [13]

Practically all the local Chechen media are now under total control of the pro-Moscow Chechen government of Ramzan Kadyrov. [14] [15] [16] [17]

Beslan hostage crisis

In several incidents reporters critical of the Russian government could not get to Beslan during the crisis. They included Andrey Babitsky, who was indicted on hooliganism after a brawl with two men who picked a fight with him in the Moscow Vnukovo Airport and sentenced to a 15-day arrest. [18] [19] The late Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who had negotiated during the 2002 Moscow siege, was twice prevented by the authorities from boarding a flight. When she eventually succeeded, she fell into a coma after being poisoned aboard an airplane bound to Rostov-on-Don. [20] [21]

According to the report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), several correspondents were detained in Beslan (including Russians Anna Gorbatova and Oksana Semyonova from Novye Izvestia , Madina Shavlokhova from Moskovskij Komsomolets , Elena Milashina from Novaya Gazeta, and Simon Ostrovskiy from The Moscow Times ). Several foreign journalists were also briefly detained, including a group of foreign journalists from Polish Gazeta Wyborcza , French Libération and British The Guardian . The chief of the Moscow bureau of the Arab TV channel Al Jazeera was framed into the possession of a round of ammunition at the airfield in Mineralnye Vody. [20]

Many foreign journalists were exposed to pressure from the security forces and the materials were confiscated from TV crews from ZDF and ARD (Germany), APTN (USA), and Rustavi 2 (Georgia). The crew of Rustavi 2 was arrested; the Georgian Minister of Health said that the correspondent Nana Lezhava, who had been kept for fives days in the Russian pre-trial detention centers, had been poisoned with dangerous psychotropic drugs (like Politkovskaya, Lezhava passed out after being given a cup of tea). The crew from another Georgian TV channel Mze was expelled from Beslan. [20]

Raf Shakirov, chief editor of the Izvestia newspaper, was forced to resign after criticism by the major shareholders of both style and content of the September 4, 2004 issue. [22] In contrast to the less emotional coverage by other Russian newspapers, Izvestia had featured large pictures of dead or injured hostages. It also expressed doubts about the government's version of events. [23]

According to a poll by Levada Center conducted a week after Beslan crisis, 83% of polled Russians believed that the government was hiding at least a part of the truth about the Beslan events from them. [24] According to the poll by Echo of Moscow radio station, 92% of the people polled said that Russian TV channels concealed parts of information. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moscow theater hostage crisis</span> 2002 storming of Dubrovka Theater by armed Chechen terrorists

The Moscow theater hostage crisis was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater by Chechen terrorists on 23 October 2002, which involved 850 hostages and ended with Russian security services killing or causing the death of at least 170 people. The attackers, led by Movsar Barayev, claimed allegiance to the Islamist separatist movement in Chechnya. They demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya and an end to the Second Chechen War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Chechen War</span> 1999–2009 conflict in Chechnya and the North Caucasus

The Second Chechen War took place in Chechnya and the border regions of the North Caucasus between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, from August 1999 to April 2009. In August 1999, Islamist fighters from Chechnya infiltrated Russia's Dagestan region, violating Russia's borders. During the initial campaign, Russian military and pro-Russian Chechen paramilitary forces faced Chechen separatists in open combat and seized the Chechen capital Grozny after a winter siege that lasted from December 1999 until February 2000. Russia established direct rule over Chechnya in May 2000 although Chechen militant resistance throughout the North Caucasus region continued to inflict heavy Russian casualties and challenge Russian political control over Chechnya for several years. Both sides carried out attacks against civilians. These attacks drew international condemnation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shamil Basayev</span> Chechen Islamic leader (1965–2006)

Shamil Salmanovich Basayev, also known by his kunya "Abu Idris", was a senior military commander in the Chechen independence movement and terrorist. As a military commander in separatist armed forces of Chechnya, one of his most notable battles was the separatist recapture of Grozny in 1996, which he personally planned and commanded together with Aslan Maskhadov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Russia</span>

Human rights in Russia have routinely been criticized by international organizations and independent domestic media outlets. Some of the most commonly cited violations include deaths in custody, the widespread and systematic use of torture by security forces and prison guards, hazing rituals in the Russian Army, widespread violations of children's rights, violence and discrimination against ethnic minorities, and the killing of journalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beslan school siege</span> 2004 Russian hostage crisis and massacre

The Beslan school siege was a terrorist attack that started on 1 September 2004, lasted three days, involved the imprisonment of more than 1,100 people as hostages and ended with the deaths of 333 people, 186 of them children, as well as 31 of the attackers. It is considered to be the deadliest school shooting in history.

Black Widow or shahidka, is a term for Islamist Chechen female suicide bombers, willing to be a manifestation of violent jihad. They became known at the Moscow theater hostage crisis of October 2002. The commander Shamil Basayev referred to the shahidkas as a part of force of his suicide bombers called the Riyad-us Saliheen Brigade of Martyrs. Basayev also stated that he himself trained at least fifty of the Black Widows. The female suicide bombers have carried out over 65% of the 23 terrorist attacks linked to the Chechen movement since 2000. The Black Widows are associated with terrorist attacks in Chechnya between 1999 and 2005.

<i>Novaya Gazeta</i> Russian newspaper

Novaya Gazeta is an independent Russian newspaper known for its critical and investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs. It is published in Moscow, in regions within Russia, and in some foreign countries. The print edition is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; English-language articles on the website are published on a weekly basis in the form of the Russia, Explained newsletter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Politkovskaya</span> Russian journalist, writer and activist (1958–2006)

Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist and human rights activist, who reported on political events in Russia, in particular, the Second Chechen War (1999–2005).

Ruslan (Hamzat) Gelayev (Russian: Руслан Гелаев; Chechen: ГелаевгIеран Германи-воI Руслан, romanized: Gelaevhervan Germanivol Ruslan was a prominent commander in the Chechen resistance movement against Russia, in which he played a significant, yet controversial, military and political role in the 1990s and early 2000s. Gelayev was commonly viewed as an abrek and a well-respected, ruthless fighter. His operations spread well beyond the borders of Chechnya and even outside the Russian Federation and into Georgia. He was killed while leading a raid into the Russian Republic of Dagestan in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dokka Umarov</span> Chechen warlord and first emir of the caucasus emirate (1964–2013)

Doku Khamatovich Umarov, also known as Dokka Umarov as well as by his Arabized name of Dokka Abu Umar, was a Chechen mujahid in North Caucasus. Umarov was a major military figure in both wars in Chechnya during the 1990s and 2000s, before becoming the leader of the greater insurgency in the North Caucasus. He was active mostly in south-western Chechnya, near and across the borders with Ingushetia and Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrei Babitsky</span> Russian journalist and war reporter (1964–2022)

Andrei Maratovich Babitsky was a Russian journalist and war reporter, who worked for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) from 1989 to 2014, covering the 1991 August Coup, Civil War in Tajikistan and both the First and Second Chechen Wars from behind Chechen lines. Babitsky's kidnapping by the Russian forces in January–February 2000 during the Second Chechen War attracted attention of international journalists' organisations. His 2005 video interview with Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev was condemned by Russian government, as Basayev was on wanted terrorist list in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assassination of Anna Politkovskaya</span> 2006 murder in Moscow, Russia

On 7 October 2006, Russian journalist, writer and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead in the elevator of her apartment block in central Moscow. She was known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and for criticism of Vladimir Putin. She authored several books about the Chechen wars, as well as Putin's Russia, and received several international awards for her work. Her murder, believed to be a contract killing, sparked a strong international reaction. Three Chechens were arrested for the murder, but were acquitted. The verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court of Russia and new trials were held. In total, six people were convicted of charges related to her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yevgenia Albats</span> Russian journalist and political scientist

Yevgenia Markovna Albats is a Russian investigative journalist, political scientist, writer and radio host. As of 2022, she works as a chief editor of The New Times magazine.

The Komsomolskoye massacre occurred following the Battle of Komsomolskoye during the Second Chechen War in March 2000. A prominent feature in the incident was the fate of a group of about 72 Chechen combatants who had surrendered on 20 March on a Russian public promise of amnesty, but had almost all either died or "disappeared" shortly after they were detained.

Iskandar Khatloni was a journalist from Tajikistan who worked for Radio Free Europe and was murdered in Moscow, Russia while covering the Second Chechen War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalya Estemirova</span> Russian human rights activist (1958–2009)

Natalya Khusainovna Estemirova was a Russian human rights activist and board member of the Russian human rights organization Memorial. Estemirova was abducted by unknown persons on 15 July 2009 around 8:30 a.m. from her home in Grozny, Chechnya, as she was working on "extremely sensitive" cases of human rights abuses in Chechnya. Two witnesses reported they saw Estemirova being pushed into a car shouting that she was being abducted. Her remains were found with bullet wounds in the head and chest area at 4:30 p.m. in woodland 100 metres (330 ft) away from the federal road "Kavkaz" near the village of Gazi-Yurt, Ingushetia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elena Milashina</span> Russian journalist (born 1978)

Elena Milashina is a Russian investigative journalist for Novaya Gazeta. In October 2009, she was awarded Human Rights Watch's Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dmitry Muratov</span> Russian journalist (born 1961)

Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov is a Russian journalist, television presenter and the editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. He was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Maria Ressa for "their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrei Mironov (activist)</span> Russian human rights activist, reporter, and interpreter

Andrei Nikolaevich Mironov was a Russian human rights activist, reporter, fixer, interpreter. The Washington Post described him as "the interpreter who tried to save Russia".

References

  1. ↑ Mereu, Francesca; Saradzhyan, Simon (March 18, 2005). "Smokescreen Around Chechnya". The Moscow Times.
  2. ↑ Lipatov, Yuriy (January 23, 2000). "Russian TV accuses military of censorship". BBC News.
  3. ↑ "Kremlin Stifles Critical Coverage of Chechnya". IFEX.
  4. 1 2 Aliev, Timur (January 27, 2005). "Silencing Chechnya". The Moscow Times.
  5. ↑ Chechnya: 10 years of conflict BBC News. December 2, 2004.
  6. ↑ Cozens, Claire (September 7, 2004). "Inquiry urged into 'poisoning' of Russian journalist". The Guardian.
  7. ↑ "Russia: Moscow Says It Will Punish U.S. TV Network Over Basaev Interview". RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty. August 3, 2005.
  8. ↑ "Russia's "Extremism" Law Should Be Withdrawn: WAN". World Association of Newspapers. July 13, 2006.
  9. ↑ "Russian-Chechen Friendship Society Closed". RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty. October 14, 2006.
  10. ↑ Gershman, Carl (October 21, 2006). "The Darkness Spreading Over Russia". The Washington Post.
  11. ↑ Levitov, Maria (November 21, 2006). "Editor Jailed for His Coverage of Chechnya". The Moscow Times.
  12. ↑ "Poll Finds a Plurality of Russians Distrust Ramzan Archived 2008-05-20 at the Wayback Machine ". The Jamestown Foundation. March 15, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Ingushetia Bans Reporting on 'Terrorist Acts'". Radio Free Europe. October 3, 2007.
  14. ↑ J. HALL, "What's really happening in Chechnya right now?", i-D 29 January 2019.
  15. ↑ J. C. WONG, "Facebook blocks Chechnya activist page in latest case of wrongful censorship", The Guardian 6 June 2017.
  16. ↑ S. RAINSFORD "Russia's Putin: US agents gave direct help to Chechens", BBC News 27 April 2015.
  17. ↑ A. ASKEROV, "The Chechen wars, media, and democracy in Russia", Innovative issues and approaches in social sciences 2015, vol. 8, no. 2, 13.
  18. ↑ 2 Reporters Unable to Travel to Beslan The Moscow Times , September 6, 2004
  19. ↑ On the Moscow Vnukovo airport conflict, Radio Free Europe, September 3, 2004. Machine-translated by online-translator.com
  20. 1 2 3 4 Haraszti, Miklós (2004-09-16). "Report on Russian media coverage of the Beslan tragedy: Access to information and journalists' working conditions" (PDF). Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OSCE).
  21. ↑ On Anna Politkovskaya falling into a coma, Novaya Gazeta , September 4, 2004. Anonymous translation
  22. ↑ "Archive of the paper version of the newspaper". September 4, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-10-14. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
  23. ↑ "The Current for Show September 8, 2004". CBC Radio One. September 8, 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-05-05. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
  24. ↑ "What do you think? Are the authorities truthful about the events of the capture and freeing of the hostages of Beslan?" (in Russian). September 16, 2004.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.