The Russian censorship authority Roskomnadzor announced last week that it has started investigations against several domestic media.
The reason was that the reporting on the war in Ukraine "did not reflect reality" and violated state censorship.
Now the government has taken action, including blocking Echo Moscow, where Ruslan Valiev works.
- I feel scared and disappointed.
I suspected that the course of events would lead to the closure of all independent mass media.
According to Valiev, editor-in-chief Alexei Venediktov has "a good and working-class relationship" with the state power in Russia and believed that he could thus count on some form of protection.
- We do not know if our radio channel will be able to continue to exist.
Can we find a compromise or do we have to pack our things and go home?
Editor-in-Chief calls for a meeting
Valiev says that the editor-in-chief has called all managers to a meeting in Moscow with the owner Gazprom-media to make a final decision about the radio channel's future.
- This is an attempt to extinguish the last freedom of expression rights in Russia, using totally fabricated motives.
Editor-in-Chief Venediktov comments on the situation on the radio channel's website.
He does not believe that any mistakes have been made and intends to appeal the decision to block the radio channel.
- Considering how the legal system has proven itself in recent years, I have some doubts that justice will prevail in this case, says Valiev.