Red lines

The pressure on Russia’s largest independent internet media, RBC.ru (РБК), continued last week when its three editors in chief were fired.

Punishment for Panama Papers reporting?
The Disinformation Digest has previously already reported about the problems RBC faced under the headline “Too successful?”.

Rumours about the Kremlin’s dissatisfaction with the outlet gained traction through the lay-off.

The most widely believed interpretation of the events remains that RBC overstepped a red line when it reported extensively on how Putin’s inner circle of friends were featured in the Panama Papers.

In an interview with Financial Times, which was widely quoted in Russian media, Elizaveta Osetinskaya, one of the removed editors, named this as the most probable reason for the drastic changes in RBC’s management.

New management in July
The new management is expected to arrive in early July and will serve as a test of how the Kremlin’s attitude to independent media develops as the September Duma elections approach.

For a thorough analysis in English of the recent history and the state of play among Russian independent media and the pressure they find themselves under, read this report from Meduza.