‘Jitters in Russian Media Over Georgia’: Le Temps of Switzerland

Many of us have gotten used to viewing the Russian press as a kind of tamed animal, for the most part parroting the Kremlin line on all things political. So it was with some surprise that I came upon this article written by a Swiss journalist stationed in Moscow.

According to Alexandre Billette, who writes for Switzerland’s Le Temps newspaper:

“If the Kremlin is comfortable in its [Army] boots, the Russian press is tormented the day after Moscow officially recognized the independence of the two separatist republics of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. … A prime reason for concern: the economic consequences of deteriorating relations with Moscow’s Western partners.”

Offering snippets to readers of Le Temps from six Russian media outlets, Billette summarizes these concerns. For example from Vedemosti:

“Guess what the new priorities of the country are,” asks Vedemosti [A business daily]. “To transform Moscow into an international business center, or modernize the army with sophisticated weaponry? Are we headed for the country’s modernization, or its mobilization?” wonders the newspaper, pointing out that Moscow’s stock market had dropped over five percent since President Dmitri Medvedev’s announcement [about recognizing the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia."

By Alexandre Billette

Translated By Elise Nussbaum

August 28, 2008

Switzerland - Le Temps - Original Article (French)

MOSCOW: If the Kremlin is comfortable in its [Army] boots, the Russian press is tormented the day after Moscow officially recognized the independence of the two separatist republics of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

• A prime reason for concern: the economic consequences of deteriorating relations with Moscow’s Western partners. “Guess what the new priorities of the country are,” asks Vedemosti [A business daily]. “To transform Moscow into an international business center, or modernize the army with sophisticated weaponry? Are we headed for the country’s modernization, or its mobilization?” wonders the newspaper, pointing out that Moscow’s stock market had dropped over five percent since President Dmitri Medvedev’s announcement.

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated and English-language foreign press coverage of the unfolding crisis with Russia.