Why journalism matters, the struggle for Russia

Putin’s Progress

In the years since he came to power in 2000, Putin has presided over what could be seen as the neutralisation of Russia's once vibrant independent media. This has been achieved by a range of methods, including the seizure of assets of leading critics, the removal of independent-minded directors and the intimidation of journalists and their sources.

There is some evidence that Putin is not above the cruder methods.