How the News is Reported in Russia
May, 2008
by Andrei Nesterov

Russia Celebrates Sport Victories

Russian TV had extensive coverage of the victory by Russia's national hockey team over Canada's team for the world hockey championship in Quebec City. The victory, which occurred on May 18th, was just days after another major win: the May 15th victory of St. Petersburg's Zenith over the Glasgow Rangers for the 2007-2008 UEFA Cup in soccer.

Some reports have stressed that Russian sport has been through difficult times but is now recovering. President Medvedev was shown addressing the national hockey team and saying that “the latest victories in soccer, hockey and other sports has been made possible by the country's successful development in recent times.” Prime Minister Vladimir Putin followed, saying that the ice hockey victory “is important not only for the Russian hockey fans, but for the whole country.”

Russia TV reported that the State Duma is planning to bestow an award upon the President of the Russian Hockey Federation, Vladislav Treyak, for the victory of the Russian team. The channel also reported that, on their return from Canada, the Russian team was greeted at Vnukovo airport in Moscow airport by crowds of fans who treated the team "as real heroes."

New Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

On May 12, the Archbishop Hilarion of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia and New-Zealand was appointed the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). He was elected by the Archbishops, and his election approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexi II. Hillarian was "enthroned" in a ceremony in New York where the ROCOR is headquartered.

Russia Channel reported that the higher ranking clergy of the ROCOR consider it symbolic that Hilarion took office on the day of the one year anniversary of the signing the Act on Canonical Communion. This was the act which started the process of reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and was signed by the now deceased Metropolitan Laurus, the former head of the ROCOR. The signing of the document was "the main deed of his life."

Officials of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed hope in TV interviews that Hilarion will continue the process of reunification. 

Russian Tourists in Egyptian Accident

On May 1, a bus carrying tourists to Cairo, Egypt, overturned and caught fire. Nine people died, including six Russians. Many others, also including several Russians, were injured. Russian TV dedicated a lot of coverage to the accident and the help provided to the tourists by Russia. First Channel reported that the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations had airlifted medical specialists and equipment to Egypt and would transport six injured Russians back to Russia.

In addition, the following day, diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Egypt came to the area of the accident to help. Although medical assistance was provided to the tourists, they will not receive any compensation from Egypt or the bus company involved. Russia Channel broadcast an interview with Irina Tyrina, a spokeswoman for the Russian Union of Tour Operators, who said that the tourists had not bought the bus tickets on the basis of a contract and therefore were not entitled to require any compensation from Russian tour operators or travel agencies.

Russian TV in its reports criticized the road safety in Egypt. "The drivers there do not observe speed limit, do not often repair their vehicles properly, know traffic regulations badly," Russia Channel reported, and said that 6,500 deaths occur each year on Egyptian roads.

Although they did not include the information in their broadcasts, Russia also has a very high rate of deaths from traffic accidents and largely from the same causes as those cited for Egypt. Last year, some 36,000 people died on Russia's roads.

Spy Planes Over Abkhazia

According to First Channel, the self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia, which the international community recognizes as part of Georgia, shot down three unmanned Georgian spy planes over the first 10 days of May. In its report, First Channel denounced Georgia for trying to start a new conflict with Abkhazia, and stated that Abhazian troops are militarily ready to defend their territory from aggression. 

According to First Channel, seven unmanned spy aircraft have been shot down by Abhazia since the beginning of 2008. The channel further quoted Deputy Defense Minister of Abkhazian Garry Kupaba. The ministered asserted that a plane shot down on May 8 was carrying a missile and a had posed a threat to civilians and the soldiers of the Russian peacekeeping forces in present in the Republic.

A Russian Inauguration

While the Russian state TV channels had many reports and comments on appointment Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister, coverage of the inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev was largely limited to the live report from the inauguration ceremony. While this may seem odd, it can be partially explained by the fact that while the inauguration of Medvedev was a legally assured occurrence, the nomination and appointment of Vladimir Putin could only be assured after the inauguration. Furthermore, the appointment of a new Prime Minister is the first step to forming a new government. The government is constitutionally required to resign before the inauguration and can only be reformed after the inauguration. Russian TV has also been flooded with reports of new appointments of new ministers and the reorganization of the government now occurring under Prime Minister Putin.

The speech made by new president Dmitry Medvedev at his inauguration was shorter than the speech by Vladimir Putin who spoke about achievements of his presidency, such as the "serious concrete results and breakthrough to new life." Then it was Medvedev's turn to take the floor, and the new president swore to serve the Russian people and make Russia one of the best countries.

In commentary, Russia Channel broadcast statements of well-known public figures. However, these were also not mainly about Medvedev, but instead focused on "the new stage of Russia's development" and the solid basis for this that had been laid in recent years. As for Dmitry Medvedev, almost the only comment made about him was the advantage of his young age. First Channel called Medvedev "the youngest leader of Russia in the last 100 years."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

The state channels broadcast many positive comments from Russian officials about Vladimir Putin's appointment to the post of Prime Minister. The leader of United Russia party, Boris Gryzlov repeated again what he has said in many recent interviews - that the President and the Prime Minister will be working in close cooperation. Vladimir Zhirinovsky named Putin "the most efficient state official, and the most experienced." Deputy Chairman of Duma Alexander Babakov said that Putin "understands very well the objectives of the country – that is, (providing a) decent life, supporting pensioners, and (maintaining) a state which can defend itself."

Russia Channel also broadcast highly critical remarks by Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov about Putin's performance as President of Russia. He said that Putin was "lucky" as president – there were not any very cold winters, no droughts, and Russia enjoyed high currency revenues. However, Zuyganov called Putin's presidency "a time of lost opportunities."

Russian state TV channels have reported nearly every appointment (and there have been lots of them) made to the new Putin-led government. However, these channels have also refrained from providing analysis of these appointments. Other media outlets, such as the liberal radio station Echo of Moscow, has expressed the opinion that the appointments of some influential Kremlin official for different government posts, and the rearrangement of powers has taken some power from the President and given it to the Prime Minister.