- Title: Russian opposition candidates support media resistance to Kremlin measures
- Date: 4th September 2021
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 4, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE IN STREET REPORTERS AND PARTICIPANTS AT SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SOFIA RUSOVA, CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS UNION, ADDRESSING RALLY, SAYING: "Of course, we're talking about the rights of journalists today. Just think about it - during Putin's rule 37 journalists have been killed. According to the freedom of speech ratings Russia is worse than Mexico, holding the 150th place." VARIOUS OF MAN HOLDING SIGN IN SUPPORT OF 'TV RAIN' (NAMED 'FOREIGN AGENT' BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MARINA LITVINOVICH, ELECTION CANDIDATE, ADDRESSING RALLY, SAYING: "Putin set up a goal for himself - all media have to be destroyed, because they are bothering him. My friends, we have to resist while we can." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS AND JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IRINA DOLININA, 'ISTORIES' REPORTER, SAYING: "The law, which is that shameful and that discriminative, must not exist in any shape." PEOPLE AT SQUARE, ALEXANDER GRIBOYEDOV MONUMENT SEEN IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 18th September 2021 14:41
- Keywords: Duma elections Moscow Putin Russia foreign agent freedom of speech opposition
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ETAZA6F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Several opposition candidates for Russia's September parliamentary election met scores of journalists in Moscow on Saturday (September 4) with a message of resistance against the Kremlin's squeezing of independent media.
Authorities have designated nearly 50 journalists and media "foreign agents", a term they say denotes foreign-funded outlets with political bias. Critics say the designation is a throwback to Soviet-style persecution.
"Putin set up a goal for himself: all media have to be destroyed because they are bothering him," Marina Litvinovich, one of the opposition candidates, told a crowd of about 200 people, mostly journalists.
"My friends, we have to resist while we can."
The Kremlin denies persecuting the media for political reasons.
Foreign agent status requires media to file detailed reports of activities and finances, heightening the risk of prosecution.
The candidates promised journalists to campaign to overturn the legislation on foreign agents if elected.
"Such a shameful and discriminatory law should not exist in any shape," said Irina Dolinina, a reporter at the Important Stories investigative media outlet, who was labelled a foreign agent last month.
(Production: Mikhail Antonov, Dmitry Madorskiy, Yury Bakhnov) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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