(25 Oct 1995) Natural Sound
The threat of armed force combined with a direct order from President Yeltsin has finally brought the Russian defence minister to court.
Pavel Grachev had steadfastly declined to show at libel hearings he himself initiated against a popular Moscow newspaper, claiming he wanted to avoid a media circus.
But on the eve of Grachev's key trip to meet his American opposite number, presidential pressure lengthened the shortened arm of Russian law just far enough to force him to face his critics.
A stony-faced Pavel Grachev was flanked by bodyguards as he walked into the centre of what he has denounced as a circus.
With President Yeltsin's order ringing in the Russian defence minister's ears and a judge threatening to send round armed police, Grachev had no choice but to face court proceedings he started himself.
The saga began last year with the death of a young newspaper reporter. Dmitri Kholodov was blown up by a letter bomb during an investigation into corruption in the Russian army.
His paper, Moskovsky Komsomolets, dared to voice what many were thinking. Pointing the finger at Grachev, the paper published a series of stinging articles.
Grachev started libel proceedings following one accusing him of diverting army funds to satisfy his taste for fast, imported cars.
But with his popularity sinking to new depths, Grachev fought desperately to avoid what had become a cause celebre. It took an unprecendented order from Yeltsin and the threat of force to bring him to court.
Appearing with the newspaper editor on a live television show last week, Grachev seemed prepared to shelve the case after receiving a groveling apology.
But he forced home the charges during the court session, clearly resolving to raise the stakes in what the press is viewing as a crucial test of their fragile freedom.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
