REACTION OF RUSSIAN MEDIA OFFICIALS TO PUTIN'S APPOINTMENT AS PREMIER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05289048
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 10, 2022
• Case Number: F-2020-00968
• Publication Date: August 13, 1999

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TITLE: RUSSIA: REACTION OF RUSSIAN MEDIA OFFICIALS TO PUTIN'SAPPOINTMENT AS PREMIER
ABSTRACT: REACTION OF RUSSIAN MEDIA OFFICIALS TO PUTIN'S APPOINTMENT AS PREMIER
COUNTRY: RUSSIA
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INFORMATION REPORT
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19990816
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TOT: 132316Z AUG 99
CIA 525262
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SPECAT 1"12'1167. CTA 525262
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE
REPORT CLASSSECRET--NOFORN--ORCON
EXCLUSIVE DISSEMINATION TO ADDRESSEES LISTED AT END OF REPORT
DIST: 13 AUGUST 1999
COUNTRY: RUSSIA
SUBJ: REACTION OF RUSSIAN MEDIA OFFICIALS TO PUTIN'S
APPOINTMENT AS PREMIER
DOI:
SOURCE:
SUMMARY: NONE.
TEXT:
MANY RUSSIAN MEDIA OFFICIALS
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH PRESIDENT BORIS ((YEL'TSIN))'S 9 AUGUST
DECISION TO NOMINATE FORMER FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE (71.)_
DIRECTOR VLADIMIR ((PUTIN)) AS PREMIER OF ALL RUSSIA.
NOVOSTI DIRECTOR ALEKSEY ((VOLIN)) WAS
PARTICULARLY ANGRY WITH YEL'TSIN FOR FIRING PREMIER SERGEY
USTFPASHTN11 AN INSTALLING PUTIN AS ACTING PREMIER.
VOLIN ASSESSED THE KREMLIN'S LATEST SHAKEUP TO BE
A STUPID MOVE, GIVEN THE COUNTRY'S ALREADY UNSTABLE POLITICAL AND
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FINANCIAL SITUATION. VOLIN PERSONALLY
LIKED STEPASHIN AND HAD WANTED HIM TO BE GIVEN SUFFICIENT TIME TO
PROSPER IN THE POSITION. VOLIN, HOWEVER, ALSO PREDICTED THE RUBLE
717 FALL AGAIN BY THE END OF AUGUST.
VOLIN HAD MENTIONED THAT STEPASHIN'S OUSTER MIGHT HAVE SAVED
HIM FROM BEING BLAMED FOR ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS, SUCH AS FORMER
PREMIER SERGEY ((KIRIYENKO)) WAS BLAMED FOR THE AUGUST 1998
FINANCIAL COLLAPSE
2. MOST RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS AND
THEIR GOVERNMENT COUNTERPARTS DISLIKE AND DISTRUST PUTIN. IN
FACT, THE NOVOSTI EMPLOYEES BECAME SO UPSET ABOUT STEPASHIN'S
DISMISSAL THAT NEW MASS MEDIA MINISTER MIKHAIL ((LESIN)) HAD TO
MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP TO NOVOSTI HEADQUARTERS ON 9 AUGUST TO CALM
DOWN HIS EMPLOYEES. LESIN GATHERED TOGETHER HIS MINIONS LATE ON 9
AUGUST AND REASSURED THEM ABOUT THE CONTINUITY OF THEIR JOBS AND
THE REGIME. LESIN ASKED HIS PEOPLE TO RESPECT PUTIN AND NOT TO
BLAME HIM FOR THE KREMLIN'S INDECISIVENESS.
LESIN ALSO TOLD THE NOVOSTI STAFF NOT TO VIEW THIS
LEADERSHIP CHANGE AS OUT OF THE ORDINARY OR WORRISOME. LESIN THEN
JOKINGLY PREDICTED THAT YEL'TSIN WOULD PROBABLY APPOINT TWO OR
THREE MORE "SUCCESSORS" BY THE TIME HE LEAVES OFFICE IN 2000.
THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF LESIN AND HIS
EMPLOYEES WAS THAT IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR YEL'TSIN TO
TRANSFORM PUTIN INTO A SERIOUS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
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COMMENTS,
AND REQUIREMENTS WELCOME.
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