Standart News

What is the key principle for an investigative journalist who cares about his or her good name? Being independent, of course. When a journalist is contracted to write for money, this is no longer journalism, it is prostitution. This, however, is the main and the only weapon in an information war. So, the Kremlin's pet Oleg Deripaska spares no money for boosting his own image. His image-makers are PR agents, journalists and politicians. He employs them is a war waged against businessman Michael Chernoy, who sues him for five billion US dollars. When you are an oligarch it would be only natural to hire the best money could buy. They can post an "investigation" in the press, write a book exposing your enemy, and what not.
It transpires from the emails made available to The Standart that Deripaska works with one of aces of the Russian investigative journalism - Andrey Kalitin. As of 1991 Kalitin hosts a series of socio-political TV programs. In 1999, for instance, he becomes an anchorman of the most popular TV talk show in Russia "Sovershenno Sekretno" (Top Secret.) Later he also works as a reporter for the "Spetsialno Rassledvane" (Special Investigation) program broadcast by Channel 1. In the summer of 2007, the Russian press breaks sensational news: Kalitin was assassinated; someone shot him in the shoulder with a traumatic gun. Shortly after he goes to a hospital unaccompanied and reports the assault to the police from the hospital bed. However, police finds no evidence on the crime scene. Nevertheless, the press trumpets immediately that the main lead is a book Kalitin is currently writing, "Vreme Ch." (The Time of Ch.) The book is about Michael Chernoy and it is seen with a naked eye that it is a special assignment.
Whom Kalitin works for is not only our wild guess, though. The Standart got hold of his emails, in which the journalist plainly proposes to Deripaska's associates black PR material defaming Chernoy. And begs for money. One of the people he addresses is Marina Kaldina, deputy CEO for legal affairs of the Bazov Element (Basel) private investment fund. An email by Kalitin addressed to Kaldian's assistant, Anna Volgusheva reads: "Please, tell Marina that the problem lies not so much in paying for my visa, as in the entire budget of my trip. We simply don't have money now. I'm not playing it up, currently the situation is really very complicated." What follows is a pledge that even if the costs are not covered by Basel, the "benefactors" will think something up. In her second letter Volgusheva assures Kalitin that they will pay the expenses despite the fact that the decision was not confirmed. The cost sheet of the Kalitin's office is also quite impressive; his bosses are really quite generous. The salary of Kalitin alone amounts to 250.000 rubles. However, the investigative journalist has to work for his remuneration. So, vivid correspondence starts between him and the Deripaska's associates. He sends out detailed reports about his work with the mass media. Kalitin follows every step of Chernoy and suggests what could be put to use for tarnishing the businessman's reputation.
The name of Kalitin is so closely associated with that of Deripaska that Tim Whewell, BBC journalist, approaches Kalitin to ask for cooperation. He plans to make a documentary about the Russian oligarch and believes that Kalitin is the right man who can fix a meeting with Deripaska for him. This is what Kalitin replies: "Dear Tim, your letter along with my recommendations was sent to the head office. I can assure you that we will succeed. As you know, Oleg D. rarely gives interviews and doesn't communicate with journalists. I think that this time he will take a different decision. I personally recommended to him to work with you and you alone. "This letter leaves no doubt as to whom "independent" investigative journalist Andrey Kalitin is working.