Against money censorship

Outraged by the increase in subscription rates, Russia's leading print media are preparing a protest. “Freedom of speech can be stifled in different ways. For example, by sharply increasing subscription rates. Only five lines on a white background—this is what the front page of Russia’s largest newspapers and magazines will look like on Wednesday,” says a media release issued by the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

The largest Russian magazines and newspapers will take part in the action, including MK, Argumenty i Fakty, Izvestia, and Komsomolskaya Pravda. The chief editors of these publications are also members of the Public Chamber and, taking advantage of the situation, they personally ask President Medvedev to intervene. According to experts, in some regions subscription rates could increase by up to 100%. In fact, this could lead to the destruction of print news media, especially in the regions. There is a risk that only TV guides, glamor magazines and crossword puzzle newspapers will survive in such a situation.

Freedom of speech is being stifled in Russia consistently and with pleasure: on the one hand, the authorities, on the other, the market. An interesting fact is that those who protest against “censorship of money” are mainly those who have long resigned themselves to political censorship. After all, it has long been difficult to suspect “leading Russian media” of objectivity and independence.