COLLEAGUES, LET’S SUPPORT NEW TIMES

Action Information Wave-2

Russian mass media are already familiar by hearsay with this story. The Russian society has got so much used to hearing some bad news about mass media that it does not care much about the harsh treatment of the prestigious liberal weekly New Times. Outside Russia only those who somehow deal with mass media monitoring are informed of this shame. I wouldn’t insist that this situation is quite unique for Russia. For several years some attempts have been made to seize the property of art guilds and associations — the club buildings of journalists, architects, actors etc. Many editorial offices in regions and capitals suffered from property seizure. A brutal property war is raging where media outlets are a weak link. The editorial offices of newspapers, magazines, radio and television broadcasting networks create the essential product for our society in general — they release information. The editorial staff has ample expertise in information support rather than realty wars. Those who encroach upon their realty are experts in property seizure for it is their business. But while in former times usurpers tried to find at least some legal ground for their actions, now they don’t deem it necessary. On September 24, late at night, some unknown invaders changed guards in Malyi Putinkovsky pereulok, Building 1 of House # 1/2… The house at this address strangely echoing the surname of our President belongs to the New Times editorial office. Ironically it is located near the Information and Press Department — a “tasty morsel” that has not so far been taken away from the widely quoted, but not very wealthy mass media. A certain Primex company founded and staffed with managers nearly the day before the seizure had allegedly bought this building from the altogether unknown Concept company, and at the moment you are reading this message has evidently sold it to a third company. On September 28 they tried to throw the workers of New Times out of the building. The new “owners” are ready to be at law for ages, since they specialize in property seizure, but our weekly cannot afford wasting time in endless trials. Many NGOs tried to defend the rights of New Times. Several appeals have been sent to Russian President and Government. Johann P. Fritz, director of the International Press Institute (not the Russian press and information minister), wrote a letter to Vladimir Putin with a detailed description of the situation. The Press and Information Department expressed its concern over the seizure of New Times, but… the police are forbidden to interfere in any disputes between economic entities. And when the matter concerns mass media, everybody remembers about “the rule of law” and turns away embarrassed. I don’t think the higher authorities would be so estranged, if Primex or any other company replaced Kremlin guards on the basis of the Kremlin purchase from Concept or any other company. I don’t think the police, FSS and other power departments would wait until some decisions are made by arbitration tribunals in this case, simply because they have no right to interfere in any disputes between legal entities. Why? What’s the difference? Or maybe “the rule” of law is not for everyone? Then all citizens of Russia should expect possible encroachments upon their private properties, their homes and apartments for certain companies or individuals may want to turn them into tramps lodging at district heating plants. Why not? The police wouldn’t interfere in the disputes between economic subjects! And who can secure you against an adroit official selling the property where your apartment house is located? This money would be sufficient for him to buy a villa in some warm paradise whereas you, Russian citizens, will be treated as those engaged in a dispute between economic subjects with no police coming to your help. Colleagues! Friends! Compatriots! The situation is not that simple as you might think. This is one more “lousiness” or “fool resistance” test if you please. We are guinea pigs again used to test the cynical technologies of public robbery. This time the respectable and widely quoted magazine became a victim; next time it will be you. This is why I turn to you, dear Russian and foreign colleagues, with a double request: Please publish New Times support letters in your periodicals (you may use this one or write it on your own). Please send us copies of your publications to the address: 123995 Malyi Putinkovsky pereulok, 1/2, Pushkin Square, GSP-4, K-6, Moscow, New Times magazine. Please send electronic versions of your publications to the E-Mail of NT and for assistant editor-in-chief Lubov Tsukanova: If you’ve had similar experiences, or know the lawyers who could give us valuable advice, send this information to the same E-Mail address. Please suggest to your readers that they may send their letters of support to the New Times mailbox at the above-stated address. Why do I call this action “The Information Wave-2”? Because we already launched Information Wave-1 on one occasion to help the Mari newspaper Nashi Sosedi (Our Neighbours). Now let’s help New Times. God grant, you won’t need any such help.

Vitaly Chelyshev

Assistant editor-in-chief of the Journalist magazine