MOSCOW, October 21 (Itar-Tass) —— First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Communist Party’s Central Committee and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov addressed officially leaders of the three federal television channels asking them to invite the party’s leader Gennady Zyuganov for an interview.
“On September 30, the First Channel, Russia-1 and NTV broadcasted your interview with Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev, on October 17 you broadcasted a similar interview with Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin,” the letter reads. Communists are sure “that both programmes referred mostly to the upcoming elections to the State Duma and the presidential election” and were not caused directly by the positions of the two leaders.
“It is evident that all involved sides have a right to express their views on these issues,” Melnikov said in the letter. “Officially you are the inviting side as being mass media you should be interested in presenting all basic points of view.”
“I mean the communist party – the country’s second political force in influence, support of the nation and election results.”
On behalf of the Communist Party and its faction at the State Duma, Melnikov asked “to organise a similar invitation for the leader of Russia’s Communist Party – Gennady Zyuganov.”
The party is sure that “an interview with him will diversify the television broadcasting and will attract a colossal television audience.”
The party hopes to hear back from the television channels before October 28. the letter was addressed to directors general of the First Channel, VGTRK /Russia/ and NTV: Konstantin Ernst, Oleg Dobrodeyev and Vladimir Kulistikov. The communist party informed about their application Head of Russia’s Central Election Committee Vladimir Churov.
“Let them ask whatever questions, we do not need any stage direction,” Melnikov told reporters. “The letters we have sent do not contain claims, they contain a request – hoping for common sense, which is specified in the text of the request.”