The editors-in-chief of liberal media outlets Gazeta.ru and Kommersant-FM radio are leaving their posts, news reports said Monday.
The announcements immediately spurred speculation of a media crackdown, although neither editor said the decision was linked to pressure regarding the outlet's editorial policy.
Gazeta.ru editor-in-chief Mikhail Kotov, who had worked at the website since 1999, said he was leaving the opposition-leaning online publication of his own accord.
A representative of SUP Media, the website's owner, told Interfax that although there had been disagreements between Kotov and management, the move was unexpected.
"We regretfully confirm the information about the departure of Mikhail Kotov from the post of editor-in-chief of Gazeta.ru," the representative said.
Alexei Vorobyov, editor-in-chief of Kommersant-FM radio, part of the Kommersant media conglomerate, which includes the prominent daily newspaper of the same name, will soon leave his post at the radio station, the publishing house's president told Interfax.
"The dismissal of A. Vorobyov has nothing to do with the editorial policy of the radio station and is prompted exclusively by personal reasons," Dmitry Sergeyev told the news agency.
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