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Russian media scandal |
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September 24, 2000
MOSCOW (AP) - Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov met Saturday with Russia's press minister to discuss his role in a controversy surrounding the prominent private media company Media-Most. President Vladimir Putin had ordered Kasyanov to figure out the extent of Press Minister Mikhail Lesin's involvement in a contract dispute over Media-Most, which owns Russia's largest private television network, NTV. Lesin's signature appeared on a key document in the case. Both Lesin and Kasyanov refused to comment, and no details about the meeting were immediately available. Russian media earlier speculated that Lesin would resign at the meeting. The questions surrounding Lesin stem from an agreement signed in July on the sale of Media-Most to natural gas monopoly Gazprom. Media-Most head Vladimir Gusinsky claims he signed the agreement under duress in exchange for the dropping of criminal charges against him, and contends the agreement is invalid. Lesin's signature is on the document, which Media-Most says indicates the Kremlin's involvement in the deal. Lesin says Gusinsky asked for the deal to settle debts to Gazprom, and claims to have signed the document at Gusinsky's request. Gazprom is partly owned by the government and some critics have said its attempt to buy Media-Most is a Kremlin-directed push to stifle media who have reported critically on the government. NTV frequently runs reports criticizing Putin. The Kremlin denies it is trying to stifle the press, while Gazprom says Media-Most owes it millions of dollars. Gazprom also accuses Gusinsky of hiding assets abroad to thwart the sale. Bailiffs from the Justice Ministry searched several Media-Most offices on Friday and froze their shares to keep them from being sold until the dispute with Gazprom is settled. |
