Russia/Radio Stations

St. Ptersburgs Times: Ekho Moskvy Celebrates 15 Years of Free Speaking

"As Ekho Moskvy radio turned 15 last week, the country’s most prominent independent-minded station was inundated with plaudits for its professionalism and dedication to freedom of speech from across the political spectrum."

"' Ekho Moskvy fulfills the function of the only objective radio station that says what is really happening in the country,' said Oleg Panfilov, director of the Center for Extreme Journalism. ' It’s difficult to find better journalists who report the news as promptly and without censorship.'

"As well as being the country’s largest private news-based station, Ekho Moskvy was also the first to adopt a talk-radio format."

"Although majority-owned by Gazprom-Media since 2001, the station remains one of the country’s last independent broadcast media, with its journalists retaining editorial independence through their blocking 34 percent stake in the company."