An attack of anti-Semitism at Moskovsky Komsomolets?

On November 25, 2004, “Moskovsky Komsomolets” published an interview with the host of the “Russian View” program (Channel 3) Ivan Demidov, which, in particular, contained rather inappropriate, in our opinion, mockery on the part of the interviewer. Alexander Melman probably tried to provoke Ivan Demidov into some anti-Semitic statements, at the same time informing readers that “the program, even a very positive one, is already accused of anti-Semitism.” However, it turned out badly - the presenter of "Russian View" almost did not succumb to the provocation, but A. Melman's statements may cause bewilderment. Here are just some excerpts from this interview:

*"Melman : - You host a not very noticeable program on a small channel. But on all large channels the main presenters are, relatively speaking, Yakubovich, Pozner, Novozhenov, Gurevich, and then everywhere. Only foreigners. Maybe these are your good friends, but what is Orthodoxy here? ... And if justice is restored, then maybe it’s worth sending all the presenters with non-Slavic surnames to some small channel, giving them a program called “Jewish View”, and the rest of TV will become Orthodox and on Will blondes like you, with the wonderful name Ivan, work there?

Demidov : - Yes, that’s what they say. And I don’t stop people from having such conversations, because I understand that it won’t come to that. And it shouldn't come. But these conversations do not appear out of nowhere. We have gone too far in one direction. Suggestions for straightening may vary. I understand that it would be very effective for me to stick an ax into the table right in the frame, unbutton my shirt a little and, disheveled, with a burning look, say: “Well, it’s time, brothers and sisters.” This is inorganic for me as a person. I understand how easy it is to score points by looking for an enemy, which is what many of our politicians do. But I’ve never done smut on TV. I’m not going to be Nevzorov or Dorenko, who chose the role of the marginalized, and now all they can do is go to the “Duty Unit” and show it, so to speak, until their corpse.”*

Comm. In our opinion, this interview is a typical example of a controversial publication and inappropriate provocation by a journalist new to the material. “Russian View” is indeed an ambiguous program. Incorrect materials appearing in it were repeatedly noted on our website; according to the results of our recently completed monitoring , a significant amount of hate speech was noted in it. However, it was specifically anti-Semitism that “Russian View” was not noticed.

Sources

• Melman Alexander. Ivan Demidov: on the way to the monastery // Moskovsky Komsomolets. 2004. November 25.