Information about the annexed Crimean peninsula and war-torn eastern Ukraine is appearing less frequently on Russian state-backed news channels, as interest gradually wanes four years after the events.
Russia annexed Crimea in the spring of 2014, and has been providing support to rebels in the Donbass region of Ukraine. Moscow calls the seizure of the Black Sea peninsula a reunification with its historical territory, and denies that there are any Russian troops in the Donbass.
Russia’s four major state-run television stations now primarily mention Crimea and the Donbass when there is a relevant anniversary date, according to the Medialogia firm’s analysis published by the Kommersant business daily.
The “Crimean spring,” for example, was mentioned 141 times in March 2016, then only 76 times in March 2017, and fell even further to 27 in March 2018.
“Apparently, budgets for the promotion of these topics have not yet been completely cut off,” political scientist Abbas Gallyamov told Kommersant.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
