GAG ORDER…. A
deputy minister of information stated last week that the media is subject to the antiterrorism law, which allows the prohibition of “propaganda” or “justification” for acts of terrorism. For example, “the federal authorities will regard the granting of air time to Chechen field commanders in the Russian media as an act of collaboration with terrorism.” Russian media, not to mention the U.S. government-funded Radio Liberty, frequently broadcast or publish statements by Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov and spokesman Movladi Udugov. The information ministry has asked Radio Liberty’s Moscow office to hand over tapes of all broadcasts aired since February 15, 2000.