Kalinkina: Authorities others to press on independent mass media

The reasons and possible consequences of the veterans' pickets near the editorial office of "Narodnaya Volya" has been commented on by Svyatlana Kalinkina.

"It is one of the events of a vast campaign of exerting pressure on independent mass media. At this stage the regime is simply trying to do that using others, not by their own hands. Now tey use veterans, who are always ready to stand up and defend the authorities," the journalist said in an interview to "Radio Svaboda".

As said by Kalinkina, veterans even demanded from "Narodnaya Volya" journalists to take off from sale Illya Kapyl's book. "I explained to them that the book hadn't been published by us, and that they were barking up the wrong tree. Frankly speaking, I had an impression that some of them hadn't even been explained why they should go and take part in the picketing of "Narodnaya Volya". It was obvious many of them hadn't even read this article".

I do not exclude that it could come to closure of independent mass media and websites. And it would be done alledgedly at request of the society. Now the preparation stage is underway, and at any moment in the run-up to the presidential election they will be able to close any independent newspaper and any alternative website," Kalinkina said.