Putin's Tough Press Law Overruled

http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,1074659,00.html


Election reporting restrictions violate freedom,
court decides

Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow
Friday October 31, 2003
The Guardian

Russia's constitutional court has overturned
media rules introduced by the Kremlin earlier this
year which heavily restricted the reporting of
election campaigns, making it illegal to analyse a
candidate's policies or to suggest which candidate
might win.

Yesterday's unexpected and liberal-minded
decision came at an embarrassing time for the
Kremlin, beset with accusations that authoritarian
supporters of Vladimir Putin are forcing out liberal
supporters of big business.

Just days ago prosecutors arrested Russia's
richest man, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a funder of
liberal opponents of President Putin.

It was seen as a politically motivated act, and
aroused fear of a political crackdown on the
nascent democratic and economic freedoms.

These two set phrases does not mix well in my head.

Something like "humane and humble people at rapist orgy".