Two Russian journalists and an environmental activist have been beaten up within a week. It's easy to blame it on the Russian government, but the problem runs deeper.
Contrary to what Western coverage suggests, Russian internet remains a relatively censorship-free zone. Yes, NGOs and opposition papers and websites have had their servers and computers confiscated – mostly under charges of copyright infringement on behalf of Microsoft, which was being used so often it issued a statement condemning the practice and granted all advocacy groups absolution from piracy – but to portray Russia as a bloodthirsty dictatorship where journalists are little more than target practice is just not fair. Reporters Without Borders, whose rating puts Russia only eight places above the human rights nightmare that is the Democratic Republic of Congo, isn't without controversies of its own, and its methodology far from perfect. Moreover, you'll have to dig deep to find a story in Russian press (TV is different) that's not in one way or another critical of the government, local authorities or big business.
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