It is unprofitable to "pinch" the press to the president:

Indeed, at the regional and federal level, we have many facts of such an attitude of the authorities to the press that inspires anxiety. The first and the main one: the press raises very serious topics, very reasonably, with links to specific documents and signatures. But - no reaction. The principle applies: the writer prescribes, the reader reads. This is the worst - silence, ignoring. The tradition continues that blossomed and gained strength under Boris Nikolaevich: write, write. You are free to write, and we are free not to respond to you. Second. When the story began with the Media Most, it seemed to me that with all the assurances, they say, this does not concern this, let them work for themselves, it was even more than an attempt to “run” on the press and restore journalists. It was an attempt to sow fear in society and thereby pick up public opinion. But the strongest thing the president has today is the carte blanche that people gave him and which, judging by today's surveys, they confirm - this is their trust. This is its largest resource, although it has many organizational resources, a resource that follows from the president’s position, a resource related to law enforcement agencies ... But they all do not work if there is no popular trust. That is why the President himself needs the most need for the independent press! After all, I see how slowly he, but trying to break with the past, pull the country out of this serious state. He has ambitions, he can take advantage of the chance and go down in history, solving the largest problems of the country, without serving the interests of some clans. But if you relate to the media - the main instrument of expressing public opinion - as the authorities relate to them today, then the constitutional right of everyone to receive information is in question, which means that everything that happens can already be perceived as a “collision” and the constitution itself. Therefore, I am strongly against the fact that all three national channels are subordinated to the state. Yes, maybe it’s more convenient to “have with us” channels like it was in my time, but if we close the channels today or transfer them to the state control, this means that we are returning to the past. I believe that someone throws the president such advice: it is necessary to restrack - they have a nip. What was unbelted is clear! It is enough to recall the Duma campaign. But after all, the government, like society as a whole, has every right to express its opinion on the work of the press, especially since it has the necessary tools for this, for example, such as the Ministry of Press. There are social structures designed to monitor compliance with ethical norms. Everyone has the right to be unpleasant to criticize the media, because the press does not apply to the clan of the "infallible." But there is a border that power in no case can pass. It is impossible to give people the impression that the government is trying to intimidate journalists, to crush the press bodies, to prevent the spread of the truth about what is happening in society. Otherwise, the question will inevitably arise - where are we moving? To the military position? After all, the restriction of freedom of information usually precedes the clamp of democratic freedoms. Already today, the trouble that happened to the Media Most forced us to unite in the NTV Public Council - although before that I was thinking about the proposal to lead such advice. But if the worst fears are confirmed if NTV is under control of Gazprom - what can be the public council?! We were created for other purposes. Very serious people united - scientists, politicians, writers - and all of them spoke out for creating a council meaning support for an independent press. I gathered this advice and I do not guarantee that this advice, when changing the situation, wants to survive - even if they ask him about it.

Indeed, at the regional and federal level, we have many facts of such an attitude of the authorities to the press that inspires anxiety. The first and the main one: the press raises very serious topics, very reasonably, with links to specific documents and signatures. But - no reaction. The principle applies: the writer prescribes, the reader reads. This is the worst - silence, ignoring. The tradition continues that blossomed and gained strength under Boris Nikolaevich: write, write. You are free to write, and we are free not to respond to you.

Second. When the story began with the Media Most, it seemed to me that with all the assurances, they say, this does not concern this, let them work for themselves, it was even more than an attempt to “run” on the press and restore journalists. It was an attempt to sow fear in society and thereby pick up public opinion. But the strongest thing the president has today is the carte blanche that people gave him and which, judging by today's surveys, they confirm - this is their trust. This is its largest resource, although it has many organizational resources, a resource that follows from the president’s position, a resource related to law enforcement agencies ... But they all do not work if there is no popular trust. That is why the President himself needs the most need for the independent press! After all, I see how slowly he, but trying to break with the past, pull the country out of this serious state. He has ambitions, he can take advantage of the chance and go down in history, solving the largest problems of the country, without serving the interests of some clans. But if you relate to the media - the main instrument of expressing public opinion - as the authorities relate to them today, then the constitutional right of everyone to receive information is in question, which means that everything that happens can already be perceived as a “collision” and the constitution itself. Therefore, I am strongly against the fact that all three national channels are subordinated to the state. Yes, maybe it’s more convenient to “have with us” channels like it was in my time, but if we close the channels today or transfer them to the state control, this means that we are returning to the past.

I believe that someone throws the president such advice: it is necessary to restrack - they have a nip. What was unbelted is clear! It is enough to recall the Duma campaign. But after all, the government, like society as a whole, has every right to express its opinion on the work of the press, especially since it has the necessary tools for this, for example, such as the Ministry of Press. There are social structures designed to monitor compliance with ethical norms. Everyone has the right to be unpleasant to criticize the media, because the press does not apply to the clan of the "infallible." But there is a border that power in no case can pass. It is impossible to give people the impression that the government is trying to intimidate journalists, to crush the press bodies, to prevent the spread of the truth about what is happening in society. Otherwise, the question will inevitably arise - where are we moving? To the military position? After all, the restriction of freedom of information usually precedes the clamp of democratic freedoms.

Already today, the trouble that happened to the Media Most forced us to unite in the NTV Public Council - although before that I was thinking about the proposal to lead such advice. But if the worst fears are confirmed if NTV is under control of Gazprom - what can be the public council?! We were created for other purposes. Very serious people united - scientists, politicians, writers - and all of them spoke out for creating a council meaning support for an independent press. I gathered this advice and I do not guarantee that this advice, when changing the situation, wants to survive - even if they ask him about it.