MOSCOW (voa) – Two media organizations in Russia are protesting the closure of the country’s only non-state television network, TV6.
Russia’s Journalist Union and the Association of TV and Radio Broadcasters issued statements saying a court ruling to shut down the station will have far-reaching consequences. The court said the network, which has criticized government policies, will be closed because it is bankrupt. It ordered TV6 to shut down within six months.
The wealthy businessman who owns the network, Boris Berezovsky, denounced the action as political pressure aimed at silencing dissent. TV6 representatives said they probably will appeal the case to Russia’s Constitutonal Court because the court ruling was based on a law that expired at the end of last year. They said they also may appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
The United States Friday expressed disappointment with the court ruling. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said the decision gives the strong appearance of political pressure on the courts.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that freedom of the press and promotion of the rule of law are best served by allowing TV6 to remain on the air.
