RETURN OF KUZKA'S MOTHER

CIRCUMSTANCES

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, supporting its colleagues in uniform from the Ministry of Defense, selflessly defended the Russians from terrorism - refused the American ABC channel, which aired an interview with Basayev, to extend the accreditation of their correspondents in ...

The Russian Foreign Ministry, supporting its colleagues in uniform from the Ministry of Defense, selflessly defended the Russians from terrorism - refused to extend the accreditation of their correspondents in Russia to the American channel ABC, which aired an interview with Basayev.

In fact, ABC seems to have gone bust: it is unlikely that the sensational rating potential of this interview is worth the losses from the outbreak of an international scandal, as well as damage to the image of the largest and most respectable American TV news provider. Needless to say, the channel violated the ethical norms that have developed in the world in covering the problems of terrorism and anti-terrorist activities. But this is not at all about this obvious, but about the fact that in this seemingly propaganda-winning situation for the Russian authorities, they managed to inflict damage on themselves.

Firstly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again demonstrated to the whole world that it is not the headquarters of Russia's foreign policy, but only a diligent executor of the orders of the elders. Otherwise, how to understand that during the day the meaning of the statements of its representatives changed to a diametrically opposite one.

Secondly, it is clear to everyone who knows that the caliber of the guns clearly does not correspond to the size of the target. No, ABC is, of course, a global television network, but for a long time there has not even been a representative office in Moscow (for purely financial reasons), and the correspondent headquarters consists of two employees living in Moscow, and two more coming from London when there is a need (which, however, is extremely rare).

In general, it seems that the Russian authorities deliberately choose an audience for demonstrating their mighty muscles exclusively among those who find it difficult or simply have no reason to fight back. According to this scheme, the main ill-wishers of Russia abroad today are Georgia, the Baltic countries, and recently Poland (“an outpost of US policy in Eastern Europe” - I wonder why not the States themselves then?), and the main enemy among the Western media is the television company , which does not even have its own office in Moscow and which shows a lack of interest in what is happening in Russia.

There is a third consideration - probably the most incomprehensible both for people in uniform and for their colleagues in civilian clothes. The deprivation of accreditation of journalists in the world that our politicians no-no and even call "civilized" is unequivocally perceived as an encroachment on freedom of information. Even if it is caused by a violation of the "anti-terrorist ethics", which in itself is condemned both in the political and information communities. As our president likes to say, "cutlets separately, and flies separately." And it's hard to disagree with him.

OFFICIALLY

Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (July 31, 2005):

“Refusal of organizations or departments from contacts with this or that TV company does not deprive the Moscow bureau of accreditation at the Russian Foreign Ministry (emphasis added), which is a formal basis for foreigners to conduct journalistic activities in our country.”

Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (a day later - August 1, 2005):

“... the Russian side, taking into account all the circumstances of the airing of the mentioned interview with the internationally recognized terrorist Sh. Basaev ... decided that as the accreditation of the employees of this television company expires, it will not be renewed (highlighted by the editor).”

Press attache of the US Embassy in Moscow:

"While we do not support media outlets that provide access to terrorists, the US government does not have the legal right to force the ABC broadcaster not to exercise its constitutional right to air this material." "There are no plans to take retaliatory measures against Russian journalists."