EURASIA INTELLIGENCE DIGEST

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06557564
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2018
• Case Number: F-2016-01256
• Publication Date: October 30, 2002

Approved for Release: 2016/11/08 C06557564
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
30 October 2002
EID300CTO2
Eurasia Intelligence Digest
An intelligence support message
for key policymakers
� The Russian Government is taking advantage of last week's hostage
crisis to call on media--including state-owned media outlets--to self-
censor.
The EID Is prepared by analysts in the Office of Russian and European Analysis and features a first look at developing
events. It is not coordinated outside of OREA. Comments are welcome
Approved for Release: 2016/11/08 C06557564
Approved for Release: 2016/11/08 C06557564
Eurasia Intelligence Digest
1. Russian Government Calling on Journalists To Self-Censor. The Russian Government is
taking advantage of last week's hostage crisis to call on media--including state-owned media
outlets--to self-censor. Press Minister Lesin and Presidential Aide Yastrzhembskiy have
warned the media this week that the state will enforce laws on the books prohibiting the
media from broadcasting or publishing quotations from terrorists or material that might be
construed to justify terrorist activity.
� Executives at state-owned Pervyy Kanal (First Channel, formerly known as ORT), Russia's
most watched television network, announced on Wednesday that they will implement a policy
of "strict self-censorship." The network's director general publicly stated that freedom of
speech and the war against terrorism wpre incompatible.
� On Tuesday, Yastrzhembskiy called on the journalistic community to develop a code of
behavior for extreme situations. Although he said that journalists--rather than the state--should
regulate what they report, he asserted that most of the criticism that the media leveled at the
security services after the crisis had violated the federal terrorism law, according to press
reports.
� Last Friday, the Kremlin took privately owned Moskoviya off the air after it allegedly violated
Russian counterterrorism and media laws. Officials on Friday also threatened to shut down the
Web site of independent radio station Ekho Moskvy and to punish state-owned radio station
Mayak for violating counterterrorism legislation and licensing requirements.
Officials' calls for self-censorship reinforce a trend toward tightly regulating media in Russia,
particularly in areas affecting national security. Even as the hostage crisis unfolded, relevant
ministries and agencies closely monitored and regulated the media, a trend that seems to be
strengthening in the aftermath of the crisis.
Approved for Release: 2016/11/08 C06557564
Approved for Release: 2016/11/08 C06557564
Eurasia Intelligence Digest
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Approved for Release: 2016/11/08 C06557564