Russian media outlets — even those not directly owned by the state — have been ordered not to publish stories on the circumstances surrounding opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death. Instead, journalists have been instructed to limit their coverage to the information provided by government-owned media agencies and to publish only after receiving approval from management. The Insider has learned about the ban from sources in four such agencies.
The Insider’s source at the regional office of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) shared that a complete embargo on such items was imposed at around 3 p.m. Moscow time, “just as a precaution.”
Another source reported that a directive to stop coverage of the topic had been posted at 4 p.m.
The third source in a major publication hesitated to pinpoint the time, saying only that “we were told not to post anything without the chief’s approval” and to “stay tuned to the federal media.”
The fourth source said their editorial office was instructed to “stick to the narrative in state-owned media.” Some of the sources admitted that “everyone is extremely confused.”