Echo of Moscow
Echo of Moscow opened its doors in 1990 as a commercial radio station based in the heart of Russia. It broadcast across many Russian cities and some former Soviet republics through local partnerships. The station gained immediate attention during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt. It stood out as one of the few news outlets that spoke against the State Committee on the State of Emergency. The committee issued decree number 3 to suspend Echo's broadcast, but employees managed to keep going. A special KGB Alpha Group made several attempts to cut the radio's access to the transmitter. Staff connected their studio directly to the transmitter via telephone lines to continue broadcasting. From day one, the station followed a strict rule about presenting all significant points of view. Journalists jokingly referred to the station as the Ear of Moscow.
Gazprom-Media held 66% of Echo of Moscow shares by 2018. Alexei Venediktov served as editor-in-chief from 1996 onward. He also owned 18% of the shares himself. Other minority shareholders kept the remaining 16%. On multiple occasions in 2008, Venediktov addressed whether Gazprom's majority ownership affected editorial policy. He stated that shareholders including Gazprom abide by Echo's charter. This charter stipulates that the editor-in-chief has the final say. Venediktov noted that while Gazprom and others attempt to influence specific coverage according to business interests, they never sought to actively intervene in editorial decisions. Station policy during his tenure included broadcasting Gazprom press statements upon request. The team always requested comment from Gazprom prior to airing negative stories about the company.
Most content on Echo of Moscow consisted of news and talk shows focusing on social and political issues. The station tried to represent different points of view throughout its broadcasts. Radio hosts included Viktor Shenderovich, Yulia Latynina, Sergey Parkhomenko, Alexander Nevzorov, Yevgenia Albats, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Vladimir Ryzhkov, Yevgeny Yasin, and Sophie Shevardnadze. Yulia Latynina was the most popular presenter at the radio station. The format relied heavily on discussions where journalists presented diverse perspectives on current events. This approach distinguished it from other state-controlled media outlets in Russia. The studio interior featured equipment used for live broadcasts as seen in 2007 photographs. Mikhail Gorbachev appeared in interviews with Alexei Venediktov in the station's television studio in 2008.
On the 1st of November 2014, Roskomnadzor issued an official warning to the station. A program aired about Ukraine contained information justifying war crimes according to regulators. Russian law allowed closure if a station received two warnings within one year. In October 2017, an assailant broke into the station building. He pepper-sprayed a security guard before stabbing Tatyana Felgengauer in the neck. Her injuries were life-threatening but she made a full recovery thanks to timely medical intervention. The station described the attacker as Israeli based on informed sources. Forensic medical expertise determined him to have paranoid schizophrenia. The court sentenced him to compulsory medical treatment instead of prison time. These incidents highlighted the growing dangers faced by independent journalists in Russia during that period.
On the 1st of March 2022, Echo of Moscow was taken off the air by Roskomnadzor. Regulators accused it of spreading false information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The office of the Prosecutor-General asked for restrictions due to coverage claiming deliberate falsehoods and calls for extremist activity. This marked the first time since 1991 that the station went silent. Later that day, YouTube blocked the station's channel because it is affiliated with Gazprom. Venediktov reported that the YouTube channel was unblocked the following morning. On the 3rd of March, the board of directors voted to close the station down permanently. The radio frequency was subsequently taken over by state-run Radio Sputnik. Staff lost their primary platform for reaching audiences across Russia and beyond.
Venediktov and most employees began a spin-off YouTube channel called Zhivoi Gvozd'. This name translates to Live Nail and rhymes with the common term Live Guest. It follows the late station's format and schedule exactly. In October 2022, Echo resumed online programming from Berlin, Germany via its Echo app. A number of former employees launched an internet media outlet in September 2022. This new project was headed by Echo of Moscow's former deputy editor-in-chief. By 2024, a documentary used real-time videos showing how staff coped with government suppression. The film covered Echo of Moscow, Novaya Gazeta, and TV Rain together. These groups faced similar challenges regarding freedom of speech under Russian law. Their stories continued despite the physical shutdown of the original broadcast infrastructure.
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Common questions
When did Echo of Moscow open its doors as a commercial radio station?
Echo of Moscow opened its doors in 1990 as a commercial radio station based in the heart of Russia. It broadcast across many Russian cities and some former Soviet republics through local partnerships.
Who served as editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow from 1996 onward?
Alexei Venediktov served as editor-in-chief from 1996 onward. He also owned 18% of the shares himself while Gazprom-Media held 66% of Echo of Moscow shares by 2018.
What happened to Tatyana Felgengauer during the attack on Echo of Moscow in October 2017?
An assailant broke into the station building and stabbed Tatyana Felgengauer in the neck with pepper spray. Her injuries were life-threatening but she made a full recovery thanks to timely medical intervention.
On what date was Echo of Moscow taken off the air by Roskomnadzor?
On the 1st of March 2022, Echo of Moscow was taken off the air by Roskomnadzor. Regulators accused it of spreading false information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Where did Echo of Moscow resume online programming in October 2022?
In October 2022, Echo resumed online programming from Berlin, Germany via its Echo app. A number of former employees launched an internet media outlet in September 2022.