Russia's State-Owned Television Broadcasts Anti-Semitic and Homophobic Reports

Strategic Insights -

Russian state-owned television, ORT, broadcast reports that the country's leading liberal challenger to Vladimir Putin, Grigori Yavlinsky, is supported by Jews, homosexuals, and foreigners. The prime-time reports aimed to exploit anti-Semitism, homophobia, and suspicion of foreigners in Russian society, as well as its enthusiasm for conspiracy theories. The broadcasts were clearly intended to discredit Yavlinsky and ensure Putin's chances of winning more than 50 percent of the votes in the election.

Key Takeaways:

  • ORT's reports claimed Yavlinsky's campaign was financed by powerful Jewish businessmen, specifically Vladimir Gusinsky, and that he received financial support from two German research organizations without producing any evidence.
  • The network alleged that Yavlinsky's campaign was receiving support from "Israeli citizens," despite Gusinsky's dual Russian and Israeli citizenship.
  • ORT also claimed that gay Russians were backing Yavlinsky, with a report on a gay group's press conference in the "Blue Heart Club," a term used as slang for a gay establishment.
  • The reports were intended to exploit anti-Semitism, homophobia, and suspicion of foreigners in Russian society.
  • ORT's broadcasts were seen as an attempt to block Yavlinsky from receiving votes that could siphon from Putin's lead.
  • The candidate Yavlinsky is generally held to have no chance in the election, but he stands to siphon the most votes from Putin.
  • Putin's campaign team and his supporter, Boris Berezovsky, might be trying to demonstrate their loyalty to Putin or avoid a runoff.
  • The broadcasts were seen as despicable and foolish by political analysts, who doubted that Putin had personally authorized them.

Statistics:

  • 51% of ORT is owned by the Russian government.
  • Yavlinsky is expected to receive 5-10% of the vote.

Sources:

  • "Putin's Campaign Dirty Tricks, Again?". The New York Times. 1996-03-25.
  • "ORT's Ties to Kremlin and Berezovsky". The New York Times. 1996-03-25.
  • "Russia's Presidential Election: A Taxing Experience". The New York Times. 1996-03-25.