According to an October 1993 report, the television programme "600 Seconds" has been taken off the air four times since its inception in 1987 (ITAR-TASS 5 Oct. 1993). In the wake of the August 1991 coup attempt, the show was "cancelled" (TASS 5 Dec. 1991; ibid. 28 Aug. 1991). Available reports do not indicate exactly when it resumed broadcasting. In early December 1991 it was again cancelled by St. Petersburg television for presenting "doctored facts" but was back on the air by 5 December (AP 16 Feb. 1992; Russian Press Digest 5 Dec. 1991).

Reports differ regarding the action taken against "600 Seconds" in March and April 1993. One report indicates that the show had been suspended (Radio Rossii Network 3 Apr. 1993). Others state that Alexander Nevzorov was removed as host of the programme but that it continued broadcasting under a replacement (The Atlanta Journal and Constitution 25 Mar. 1993; BBC Summary 2 Apr. 1993; Irish Times 10 Apr. 1993). By 9 April, Nevzorov had resumed his position and was back on the air (ibid.). For additional information on the above, please see the attachments to Response to Information Request RUS17239 of 17 May 1994.

For information on the ban of "600 Seconds" in early October 1993, please see Response to Information Request RUS17239.

On 4 October 1993, Nevzorov was arrested for "carrying illegal weapons" according to one report and was released later the same day (AFP 4 Oct. 1993; BBC Summary 6 Oct. 1993).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 4 October 1993. "Demonstrators Protest Arrest of Nationalist News Show Host." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 16 February 1992. Thomas Ginsberg. "TV, Rallies and Russia First." (NEXIS)

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 25 March 1993. "World in Brief." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 6 October 1993. "St. Petersburg Calm; Sobchak Says Yeltsin Tried Everything to Find Compromise." (NEXIS)

. 2 April 1993. "Media Affairs; Aftermath of Dispute on Sacking of Aleksandr Nevzorov." (NEXIS)

The Irish Times. 10 April 1993. City Edition. Seamus Martin. "Campaign Begins with Attack on Yeltsin." (NEXIS)

ITAR-TASS [Moscow, in English]. 5 October 1993. "St. Petersburg TV Head Suspends '600 Seconds' Program." (FBIS-SOV-93-192-S 6 Oct. 1993, p. 29)

Radio Rossii Network [Moscow, in Russian]. 3 April 1993. "Demonstrations Outside St. Petersburg TV Center Reported." (FBIS-SOV-93-063 5 Apr. 1993, p. 62)

Russian Press Digest. 5 December 1991. N. Volynsky. "A. Nevzorov: 'Thanks to Pravda and All'." (NEXIS)

TASS. 5 December 1991. Andrew Polyakovsky. "'600 Seconds' Commentary." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 August 1991. Oleg Serdobolsky. "Leningrad Television Discontinues Popular Programme." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 4 October 1993. "Demonstrators Protest Arrest of Nationalist News Show Host." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 16 February 1992. Thomas Ginsberg. "TV, Rallies and Russia First." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 6 October 1993. "St. Petersburg Calm; Sobchak Says Yeltsin Tried Everything to Find Compromise." (NEXIS)

Russian Press Digest. 5 December 1991. N. Volynsky. "A. Nevzorov: 'Thanks to Pravda and All'." (NEXIS)

TASS. 5 December 1991. Andrew Polyakovsky. "'600 Seconds' Commentary." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 August 1991. Oleg Serdobolsky. "Leningrad Television Discontinues Popular Programme." (NEXIS)