(29 May 2001)
1. Wide shot Media-Most headquarters
2. Mid shot same
3. Setup shot Dmitry Ostalsky
4. Mid shot security cameras
5. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Dmitry Ostalsky, Media-Most Spokesman "As to the legal consequences of today's decision, it is very hard to answer that question. I have the feeling that the authorities are trying, purely through inertia, to destroy everything that is connected with the word "Most." But it seems that in this case, the authorities outfoxed themselves."
6. Cutaway street sign
7. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Dmitry Ostalsky, Media-Most Spokesman "It is difficult to calculate the ramifications of this ruling. This is the first case of its kind in Russian jurisprudence, it is unprecedented, therefore it is difficult to comment. I can assure you that we will study this question and we will file a complaint so that this decision will be overturned."
8. Wide shot corridor Ekho Moscow
9. Mid shot pictures on wall
10. Set up Aleksei Venedictov
11. Cutaway old radio
12. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Aleksei Venedictov, Ekho Moscow Director "Today's decision characterises the current situation of the Russian judicial system, as we saw during the confict between Media-Most and Gazprom that the authorities would use the justice system as an instrument for their own designs and that the law was merely a formality. But for Ekho Moscow's work in particular, today's decision has no effect on it."
13. Close shot doll
14. Vedictov at computer

STORYLINE:

A Russian court on Tuesday ordered the liquidation of embattled Media-Most holding company, backing a lawsuit by tax authorities who accused the independent media group of violating financial security rules.

The suit was initially filed last December, at the height of Media-Most's political and business battle with the government.

Tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky's media group was among the most vocal critics of President Vladimir Putin, and supporters said the series of legal proceedings was part of a Kremlin campaign to muzzle independent press.

Government officials, however, said they were motivated solely by the goal of ending alleged financial misdeeds by powerful tycoons.

Last month, Media-Most was taken over by the government-linked natural gas giant Gazprom, and the potential implications of Tuesday's ruling for Russian press freedom were not immediately clear, said Media-Most spokeswoman Yelena Visens.

The suit demanded the liquidation of Media-Most for insolvency, citing the company's high level of debts relative to assets, court officials have said.

The Moscow Arbitration Court threw out the suit last month, saying that the filing of liquidation suits was beyond the jurisdiction of tax authorities, Arbitration Court spokesman Alexander Remigailo said.

But tax officials challenged the ruling before the court's appeals board, and the lawsuit was satisfied at a hearing Tuesday, he said.

Media-Most lawyers on the case could not immediately be reached for comment, and the holding company declined to speculate on the possible consequences before consulting with its attorneys.

But Media-Most will appeal the ruling, said company spokesman Dmitry Ostalsky.

The Russian government unleashed a series of legal proceedings against the holding and its founder Gusinsky a year ago.

Gusinsky has been accused of misrepresenting Media-Most's assets when applying for a Gazprom-backed loan.

He has been living abroad for about 10 months, trying to escape prosecution in Russia.

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