[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E1660]]


                    A FREE PASS IN RUSSIA--NOT YET!

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have a story for any of my esteemed 
colleagues who think that the press in Russia is truly free.
  Early this month NTV, the largest privately owned TV network in 
Russia aired a puppet show that took a few satirical swipes at the 
Russian government. Very light stuff compared to what you might see on 
Saturday Night Live. The prosecutor-general's office, upon learning 
that the honor and dignity of the Russian leadership had been made 
light of, swung into action, filing suit against the producers of the 
show and launching a full-blown criminal investigation.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it's quite ironic that the Russian government, 
which has thus far proven incapable of catching the killers of two 
leading journalists, is turning its massive resources to bear on a 
bunch of rubber puppets. Public figures have to face up to a certain 
amount of lampooning, and a little political humor is no excuse for 
this kind of bullying by the Russian government.


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