Quite why Alisa Yarovskaya is out of a job as a journalist for state TV channel Yamal-Region days after asking a question during the president’s annual press conference is unclear. Some reports say authorities in the Arctic Yamal area of north-west Siberia were displeased with her question. But the story has shone a light on the difficult role Russian journalists have in holding authorities to account. Almost three hours into President Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference on 19 December, the microphone was passed to journalists from the Yamal region. Alisa Yarovskaya took the microphone, although it was apparently meant for another Yamal-Region TV journalist selected by Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.

Source: Nigerian Tribune December 24, 2019 15:22 UTC