ABOUT OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

THE FOURTH POWER

Naturally, an operation of this kind needs operational support from the special services. At the very least, the experience of pre-election battles shows that without FSB officers and former security officials embedded in power structures ...

Naturally, an operation of this kind needs operational support from the special services. At least, the experience of pre-election battles shows that without FSB officers and former security officials embedded in power structures, “technical” moments - “arrows”, “wiring” and “assaults” - are hardly feasible.

According to the information we received from the employees of the special services themselves, who are related to the political process in the regions, the local FSB was indeed noted in this conflict. The press service of the UFSB received an assignment from Moscow to "reason" the journalists, suggesting that they not write anything at all about Ryzhkov and the situation in general. The goal is clear - the PR campaign was in jeopardy. At the same time, references were also made to the will of the presidential administration.

When all efforts were in vain, they began to “work” with representatives of state structures, whom they tried to force to refuse to cooperate with the rebels. Also, the local FSB was recommended to find out whether the protest of journalists was spontaneous, or whether there are some forces trying to control the situation from the capital. It is not difficult to guess how this is done: telephones, offices - for wiretapping, and all for a short time.

Very often, the "man from Moscow" got in touch with the leadership of local publications through an intermediary - an official of the city administration, a former intelligence officer. After analyzing the payroll, we decided to clarify: “Dear Mr. Vice Mayor Balabanov, were you not the trusted person who arranged meetings in cafes and restaurants with a Moscow representative who called himself Dmitry Sobolev. At the very least, former FSB officers spoke very positively about your business qualities.

Investigation Division

DMITRY SOBOLEV - ON THE WIRE

The fact that a certain person named Dmitry Sobolev was the representative of the interests of the Moscow authorities and the organizer of the action against Ryzhkov was confirmed to Novaya Gazeta by several participants in the “journalistic resistance”. Some of them doubted: is it true that Sobolev is a real name and that his passport details correspond to a person? We were able to find the man's mobile phone number and talk to him.

First call:

— Dmitry Sobolev?

— Yes.

- Hello. We finally got through to you.

“Excuse me, can you remind me who this is?”

- You are called from Novaya Gazeta. Can you answer some of our questions about the situation in Altai?

- No.

- Why?

- Don't want. All the best.

Second call:

Sobolev: Hello.

- Dmitry, did you work as a political strategist in the Altai Territory?

Short beeps - after listening to the question, Sobolev hangs up.

Alexey SIMONOV, President of the Glasnost Defense Foundation:

— I do not think that this action is overly politicized. These guys have no desire to either remove someone or appoint someone. They just got bored. There is after all the most elementary limit. How much can be manipulated? I think the weight just hit the floor. Now journalists are becoming a bargaining chip for anything. Therefore, the most competent position is to say: finally leave me alone!