Russian Lawmaker: Fire TV Journalist for Criticizing Courts

Russian ruling party's MP Ilya Kostunov sent a letter to state-run Channel One's head demanding the dismissal of prominent journalist Vladimir Pozner for criticizing the Russian judicial and law-enforcing systems in a TV show. Pozner voiced mistrust of the Investigative Committee following the controversial arrest and alleged torture of dissident Leonid Razvozzhayev. “How can the people believe you, when for the last ten years, it’s been strenuously shown – and proven – that there is no justice in the country?”  Pozner suggested that Razvozzhaeyev was forced to confess to organizing mass riots.  Pozner also criticized the recent jailing of two members of the feminist opposition group Pussy Riot.  Kostunov ironically remarked: "I know Pozner is U.S. citizen and I think a citizen of France, and when he says he would like Razvozzhaeyev case to be tried by a trustworthy court, he probably means a U.S. court.  Well, if the allegations against Razvozzhaeyev are true, a U.S. court would certainly award a prize to him."

http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2057247
http://www.echo.msk.ru/blog/pozner/945710-echo/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9643314/Russias-David-Dimbleby-slams-arrest-and-torture-of-activist.html
http://en.rian.ru/columnists/20121029/177023796.html