Putin slams liberal radio station

MOSCOW – Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused Russia’s top liberal radio station of pouring ‘diarrhoea’ over him and serving United States interests, and attacked a famous but anti-Kremlin writer for his Georgian roots.

Putin targeted the Echo of Moscow, a state-controlled but liberal-leaning radio station, at a lavish dinner with journalists, attended by its editor Alexei Venediktov.Calling the station’s reporting ‘gibberish,’ he told its veteran editor not to get offended.’I am not offended when you pour diarrhoea over me all day long, and you are offended, I merely said two words,’ he said, also accusing the outlet of reporting in favour of the United States.’I was lying in bed before going to sleep or after waking up, I already don’t remember, and was thinking: ‘This is not information, what they are giving.”This is serving the interests of a foreign state regarding another state, regarding Russia’,’ Putin said, referring to the radio station’s coverage of Moscow’s missile defence policy.The public dressing-down of a boss of the station controlled by gas giant Gazprom came as the strongman prime minister is seeking to reclaim his old Kremlin job in March 4 presidential elections despite an outburst of protest against his 12-year rule.Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets protesting last month’s fraud-tainted parliamentary polls, and the nascent protest movement is hoping to muster another big rally on February 4.Venediktov, who has been at the helm of the station’s editorial policies since 1998, appeared to take the attack in his stride but admitted his surprise.Analysts said the prime minister’s critique should not be taken lightly however.’The authorities are seriously frightened by critical media and may try to sideline the Echo,’ said political analyst and opposition activist Dmitry Oreshkin. – Nampa-AFP