As a matter of fact, I once hosted a program on Echo of Moscow called *Urban Development Chronicles*—about city development, architecture, conflicts between developers and residents, and that sort of thing. That was when I got to know most of the Echo people, many of whom have remained my friends.
Today Echo turns 25, and to my regret—and, I know, to the regret of many people at the station—the anniversary is being discussed in the context of Alexei Alexeyevich Venediktov’s somewhat eccentric personnel policy of late.
It really does look irritating, but let’s look at the bigger picture: what is happening now is just one episode.
And the bigger picture for me is that Echo is the only traditional (non-internet) mass media outlet with a large audience where I have the opportunity to appear from time to time. Forgive me for using myself as an example, but since I have become He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, it is probably a good example.
They invite me themselves, and if I feel I have something to say, I can ask to be invited on air without any problem.
In all that time, there was never a single case where they not only asked, but even hinted: please don’t say that. Except, of course, when they asked me to comply with election laws.
I am absolutely sure that Albats, Parkhomenko, Latynina, and the other top-rated hosts who are not formally Echo employees do not face restrictions either. There have been various incidents, conflicts, and even suspensions from the air, but censorship as such—no.
For me personally, the story of my *Urban Development Chronicles* is even more telling. Everyone knows that Echo of Moscow has traditionally been closely connected to City Hall, while on my program I absolutely tore into the mayor’s office and the Luzhkov-era construction mafia.
We had an understanding that I would give the other side a chance to speak, and the editors knew there would be no paid-for hit pieces from me; beyond that, I said whatever I wanted.
There simply was no format in which censorship—or a polite request to be understanding—could arise. I chose the topic myself, wrote what I thought needed to be said, then we recorded the program and handed it to the sound engineer, who pressed the button at the right time and put it all on the air. That was it.
It is all complicated, but Echo of Moscow really has existed for 25 years as a free radio station, and I hope it remains that way.
Congratulations to all the staff, guests, and listeners on the anniversary. Hooray.
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