Putin gets tough with news media The supreme court's decision upholding Pasko's prison sentence came at a time when President Vladimir Putin was asserting control over the news media. Following the hostage-taking at a Moscow theatre, the Duma adopted an amendment to the anti-terrorist law that imposed considerable restrictions on press freedom and foreshadowed an increase in the censorship that has already limited coverage of the war in Chechnya for many years. Under international pressure, President Putin finally vetoed the amendment and asked legislators to redraft it.

Several Russian news media have been sanctioned for their coverage of the hostage-taking in Moscow, and the Russian authorities have also criticised the foreign press for their coverage of the war in Chechnya and the "anti-terrorist operations."

Reporters Without Borders

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