Russia's Leaders Should Em- Brace and Encourage Free- Dom of the Press District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2000 in the House of Representatives

Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, as Russia prepares for Parliamentary and Presidential elections, there are alarming signals that the Kremlin is cracking down on privately owned news outlets who have been critical of government policies. In particular, I understand that the independent and highly regarded television station, NTV, has been pressured by officials who are displeased with its news coverage of the Kremlin. There are reports that the owners and reporters of NTV and other news organizations have been harassed, and that government agencies have threatened to deny operating licenses to these organizations, have attacked private media companies through state-owned media, and have issued veiled threats to nationalize NTV and other private media outlets. Such activities undermine Russia’s free and democratic nature. I find particularly disturbing reports that Yeltsin Administration head Alexander Voloshin has asked his staff to find any grounds possible by which to initiate criminal action against owners of private media enterprises. The most notable example is Mr. Voloshin’s order to the Director of the Tax Police Federal Service to carry out inspections of the editorial offices of media outlets owned by Media Most, the largest privately owned media company in Russia, headed by Vladimir Goussinsky. The fact that Mr. Goussinsky has consistently submitted tax returns and paid all taxes required by current law since 1992 was apparently insufficient in stopping these egregious searches. Free press may also be threatened on another front. In July, 1999, the government established a new Ministry for Publishing, TV and Radio with the task, according to Prime Minister Stepashin, of ‘‘consolidating’’ the government’s ‘‘ideological work.’’ This new ministry will have vast powers to oversee and control news content and other aspects of Russian media, including publishing, licensing regulations, advertising, satellite broadcasting, and press distribution. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely concerned about the possible effects that this new Ministry’s policies might have on private and independent media outlets. Whoever controls the media in Russia may well influence the outcome of the upcoming presidential elections. It is generally accepted that favorable television coverage of President Boris Yeltsin’s re-election campaign made possible his ultimate success at the polls. In a democratic society, the diversity of opinion and variety of information that is fostered by a free and independent press is an important part of the political process. The subversion of independent media, especially at this critical juncture in the Russian political process, is disturbing. If Russia’s nascent democratic system is to succeed, freedom of the press must be preserved. I call on President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Stepashin to ensure that attacks on privately owned media are curtailed, and to publicly reinforce the government’s favorable opinion toward freedom of the press in Russia.