Exactly 25 years ago, free TV was buried in Russia

Exactly 25 years ago, free television was buried in Russia.

On the night of April 13–14, 2001, 40 plainclothes men stormed the NTV office. They replaced security and let in new management. The country’s hugely popular independent TV channel came under state control.

TV host Mikhail Osokin called it a “first warning bell” that society failed to hear at the time.

\️⃣Why NTV was destroyed:

Vladimir Gusinsky’s media holding “Media-Most” (NTV, print outlets, “Echo of Moscow”) actively criticized the Kremlin. Journalists investigated the apartment bombings in Moscow, raised questions about the “Ryazan sugar” incident, exposed corruption and failures of the Chechen war. The final straw for Putin was the satirical show “Kukly,” where he was portrayed as an ugly dwarf.

⬇️Timeline of the crackdown:

⏺Spring 2000: Searches, criminal cases, arrest of Gusinsky (he left the country after detention).

⏺March 2001: A 20,000-strong rally at Pushkinskaya Square in defense of the channel.

⏺April 3, 2001: Gazprom holds a shareholders meeting and installs its managers. Journalists protest.

⏺April 14, 2001: Forceful takeover of the office at 4 a.m. By 10 a.m., a news broadcast aired from the “new” editorial team.

As a result, most of the channel’s stars resigned the same day. They moved to TV-6, which authorities would shut down just six months later.

Notably, in April 2001 even Vladimir Solovyov protested: “Viewers should have freedom of choice, and it’s not for President Putin to decide.”

Video compilation: Govorit NeMoskva

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