After 11 years of providing Moscow readers with investigative journalism, irreverent commentary, and sophomoric gags, the English-language newspaper the “The eXile” is closing down after investors fled in the face of a government inspection of the paper’s content.
The alternative tabloid — known for its Gonzo-style journalism on drugs, sex, politics, and the seamier side of Moscow nightlife — announced the closure in a blog posted on its website on June 11.
The paper’s demise, and the investors’ flight, was sparked by a visit on June 6 by inspectors from the Federal Service for Mass Media, Telecommunications, and the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
I am thinking now that I am working for “Exile” as reporter, being in same time active participant and even architect of Russian History. Thus, the first Congress of “Other Russia” held in Moscow’s Izmailovo Hotel on September 30 was planned and executed by Garry Kasparov and me. As to the idea of participation in the comping Russian parliamentary elections it was entirely my idea. I expressed that idea two years ago, and steadily, have promoted it inside of the Other Russia coalition. Finally it was accepted by my colleagues in the coalition. On October 1st, Kasparov and me, we visited Central Electoral Commission and have handed over the list of candidates for elections of deputies of a State Duma. What I want to say, that I am reporter who is reporting on activity of Edward Limonov–who is oppositional politician. Unusual situation, isn’t it?
On June 15, the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda have published an interview with Andrei Lugovoy, who is suspected by British police to be the executor of Alexander Litvinenko. Litvinenko’s story was a headliner for the world media for the last eight months and is a still a headliner. Exotical weapons used for killing — radioactive polonium — as well as personalities of both the victim (Litvinenko) and the suspected killer (Lugovoy), ex-FSB officers both, keeps interest of media boiling.