Czech Television: Russian accusation is "clear misunderstanding"Czech Television´s press release of November 7, 2002:
Czech Television was bringing latest reports on the protracted Russian-Chechen conflict from different angles
Czech Television regards the accusation of supporting terrorism by showing the documentary “Dark Side of the World” as a clear misunderstanding. Czech Television, which however has not received the Russian statement in any official way, would like to strongly protest against such an absurd accusation. Czech Television considers the documentary “Dark Side of the World” a unique testimony of the life of civilians under war circumstances in Grozny and Samashki in December 1999, made with maximum objectivity. Without any subjective commentary, the documentary brings only authentic testimonies by people living through this war.
The program director of Czech Television, Petr Koliha said: “We believed it was the duty of the public service media to provide information on the events at the Dubrovka theatre in Moscow in a broader context. “ He also said: ”We flexibly included into our broadcast extra news bulletins, we held specialized discussion on the topic and we added this unique documentary to the mosaic,” he said.
Similarly to all other films made in cooperation with Czech Television, the People in Need Foundation and the Epicentrum news agency, the documentary carries a clear anti-war appeal. In spring 2001 the film made by Petra Procházková, Jaromír Štětina and director Petr Hanuš received the Johns Hopkins University Award in New York facing the competition of 230 entries from 38 countries. Czech Television showed the documentary for the first time in February 2000.
Czech Television would like to point out that similarly to other world media it has been following the Chechnya related events in a continuous manner, in the long term and from different angles. This is why it devoted an intense attention to the hostage-taking at the Dubrovka theatre in Moscow. Czech Television got all the available news agency reports and also sent its own correspondent to the spot to bring live reports on the latest developments at the Moscow theatre. Apart from fifty topical stories the Czech Television also brought several analytic features and discussions.
In the unique documentary, both the citizens of the above mentioned Chechen towns as well as Russian soldiers had an opportunity to speak in front of the camera. Jaromír Štětina says: ”We, the authors of the film, have denounced Chechen terrorism in Moscow and we believe that now it is the time for decent people to denounce the terror with which Russian troops torment civilians in Chechnya.”
Translated by Prague Watchdog.
(O/T) RELATED ARTICLES:
· Russia accuses public Czech Television of supporting terrorists by broadcasting documentary on Chechnya war (6-11-2002)
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