According to the newspaper, there are several reasons for that, including the absence of pressure on TV channels from once all-powerful oligarchs and the unwillingness of the authorities to have free media in the country. Indeed, of media sources operating in Russia, only Western media sources provide unbiased coverage, as well as a few small radio stations working in Russia.

The New York Times recommends that the Russian President should pay more attention to the state of the Russian press ahead of presidential elections.

Meanwhile, the Information Policy Committee is discussing amendments to the media law, banning “the dissemination of information about terrorist acts in TV and video programs except information provided by law enforcement agencies”. The amendment was proposed by Mikhail Yurevich, a member of the United Russia party.

In his opinion, the coverage of terrorist acts in federal media sources should be sanctioned by the authorities, while this is not necessary at a regional level.

For his part, Mikhail Fedotov, Secretary of the Union of Reporters, thinks that this amendment contradicts the provisions of the Constitution on freedom of the media. “If you plug your ears and close your eyes, the problem of terrorism will not be solved,” he stressed.