What were the 90s like? Why are the nineties called 'dashing' years?

Life in the nineties. Memoirs of eyewitnesses

Now, in connection with all sorts of unpleasant events in the domestic economy, it has become popular to remember the dashing nineties. These memories are served under the “sauce”, they say, look at the difficult conditions we survived in, and nothing – we managed. On the contrary, my character has been strengthened and a healthy indifference has developed.

We agree with the conclusion about the steely character and healthy indifference, but not so much with the verb “survived”. The point is that there was no harsh survival. Back then we (most of us) just lived. We lived like everyone else. Usually. And only later, having matured, settled down and grown fat on our barrels, we began to look at our past with surprise, delight and even horror: “How? How did you do it? How did they not die then, in those crazy years? How how? Calmly. Like this. “It was dangerous in places, but fun. The brothers played a lot of pranks, but they still knew where and when a decent person shouldn’t go, so as not to run into trouble. And so - he sold cigarettes, speculated in alcohol... Oh! Once I almost got caught up in a showdown - the supplier cheated me, and I had already finalized the deal. But I was very lucky then. They killed the guy to whom I promised a shipment of goods. And his partner turned out to be a sincere guy. I returned the advance to him, and we fled amicably. But then, of course, I turned gray.” Oleg, 45 years old. “I was hipping thoughtfully. And the fact that I didn’t have a damn bit of money seemed like a normal price to pay for freedom.” Anton, 45 years old “In the 90s I was a schoolgirl. Parents are engineers. We didn't starve, but it was difficult. Chocolate, I remember, was a luxury, meaning you couldn’t buy it every day. Me, what? I don’t like chocolate, and my mother has a terrible sweet tooth. So the guy looked after me, brought me chocolates, and I gave them to my mother.” Tatyana, 39 years old “I studied at school, went to college, studied at college, worked part-time as a marker, librarian. We still speculated there with my family a little. How many pigs have we carried from Belarus on our backs? We didn't go hungry. But they didn’t show off, of course. I remember how all sorts of bounty Snickers were cut into pieces and shared “for everyone.” Irina, 38 years old

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In the media, the nineties are often referred to as the “dashing 90s.” It was then that the level of income of citizens changed dramatically and the social status of the Russian population changed significantly.

Wealthy gentlemen with money and expensive cars appeared, and along with them bandits with their famous showdowns. More “illegal” times have not existed in Rus' since the time of Stepan Razin. Frequent delays with wages, empty store shelves and, sometimes, even hunger. Spontaneous markets and racketeers have appeared, collecting bribes only “for the fact that you dare to breathe” - and what happened in those “dashing nineties”!

At that time, the majority of Russians were indifferent to the political situation in the country, and the majority learned about the collapse of the Union not from television screens and printed publications, but from the lips of relatives and work colleagues. It is impossible to admit that the Russians were of little interest in their own power; the people were simply accustomed to life in a country where life was almost always consistently good and adequately measured.

With the rapid growth of unemployment and constant wage arrears at most enterprises, citizens began to show great interest in political life, delved into the legal aspects and legislative subtleties in order to minimize encounters with employers who fraudulently do not pay wages at all. Along with the growing number of unemployed and constant delays or non-payment of wages, store shelves were almost completely empty: the whole country turned into one continuous queue.

There was no sugar, and a trip to the store in afternoon often ended with the impossibility of buying even bread!

But in the mid-90s, the position began to change radically and the lives of the majority “became in full swing”: many new jobs were organized, the money earned began to finally be paid - although sometimes in food or products own enterprise. Undoubtedly, dawn had broken. The formation of a new social stratum began, the members of which were called “brothers”.

“The Bratva” had no problem “protecting” all aspiring businessmen throughout the vast country and famously forced them to pay tribute for the opportunity to do business. Newly-minted entrepreneurs paid something like a profit tax. “Nines,” especially cherry-colored ones, and the Mercedes 600 series became incredibly popular.

This was the time of crimson jackets (an attribute of success and belonging to a caste), “fingering”, massive gold chains around the neck - which often turned out to be simply gilded and insanely expensive cell phones(due to the beginning of the development of mobile communications).

The older generation remembers that in the 80s there was almost no advertising as such on blue screens. The exception was new inventions Soviet Union, the topical TV show “Wick” and everyone’s favorite and popular TV magazine “Yeralash”. The 90s brought Russian TV viewers an abundance of advertising: from Chupa-Chups caramels and Love Ice chewing gum, to the Coca-Cola drink, which was gaining enormous popularity, and even ordinary dryers.

What changes have affected the world of cinema? Undoubtedly, housewives were very fond of one of the first TV series - "Santa Barbara", which was broadcast in the nineties on many television channels. It turned out that sex exists, and “Little Vera” is a clear confirmation of this - with hitherto unknown erotic scenes. The younger generation simply fell in love with “Helen and the Boys” and the TV series “Friends”.

Children began to dream of being no longer astronauts, as before, but cool “Rambo” and “Walker”... Great amount The cinema of the nineties brought everything new and previously unknown to the domestic audience.

The dashing nineties did not spare the musical elite either. The “brothers” happily listened to chanson and Bulanova, the group “Combination” and Alena Apina were popular. Like mushrooms after rain, numerous musical groups grew and were created: “Tender May”, “Na-Na” and others. Stadiums of fans and multimillion-dollar venues of spectators famously gathered, who adored their idols and brought huge amounts of money to the organizers of the concerts.

Most producers made their first millions in the heady nineties - at the dawn of show business. I can no longer remember all the stars that appeared, but the road to the world music business Many newcomers opened in the 90s.

Along with television advertising of products, in the 90s, compatriots had the opportunity to purchase wonders in the form of “VM-12” video recorders and all kinds of game consoles like “Dandy” and other entertaining electronic novelties. What do you remember about the dashing nineties?

They are already a thing of the past, but the memory of them is still alive. Now some are trying to idealize that difficult and terrible time, remembering only best moments, which were much smaller compared to all the negativity. Next, we will talk about all the bad things that remained in that era, look at the photos of those years and hope that such times will never come again.

WAR IN CHECHNYA AND TERROR ATTACKS

At the end of 1994, the political crisis in the Chechen Republic reached its peak. Separatist tendencies in the republic grew, and the rights of the Russian-speaking population were infringed. As a result, it was decided to resolve the conflict by force. It was never possible to gain control over Chechnya in the 90s, despite the capture of Grozny. The militants’ response to the presence of federal troops in “independent Ichkeria” was repeated terrorist attacks on Russian territory, which claimed hundreds of lives of civilians, including women and children.

Results of the failed assault on Grozny at the end of 1994 - beginning of 1995. Instead of 2 days, during which Defense Minister Pavel Grachev promised to take Grozny, it took 2 months. The losses of the Russian army, according to official data, amounted to 1.5 thousand people killed. Total by 1999 Russian army lost from 5 to 14 thousand people in Chechnya.

Russian soldiers and officers captured. They were not always captured as a result of hostilities. The war in Chechnya has become a business for many. While those close to the country's top leadership were engaged in the sale of weapons to militants, the sale of soldiers to Chechnya flourished in the army.

This is what the fake Chechen advice notes looked like, with the help of which, with the participation of the Central Bank of Russia, trillions of rubles were laundered.

Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to Chechnya, General Lebed, who signed the Khasavyurt Agreements, and terrorist Shamil Basayev.

As a result of the terrorist attack in Budennovsk, when Chechen terrorists seized a maternity hospital in June 1995, 129 people were killed. The militants were allowed to return unhindered to the territory of Chechnya.

In September 1999, there was a series of bombings of residential buildings throughout Russia, including Moscow. More than 300 people died.

INTERNAL POLITICS

It is believed that the 90s were short time freedom in the history of Russia. We can agree with this - there were no taboos either in culture and simple life, or in politics. Everything was allowed: the storming of the White House due to a conflict with parliament, and political murders (among the victims: journalists Vladislav Listyev and Dmitry Kholodov, State Duma deputy Galina Starovoitova, mayor of Nefteyugansk Vladimir Petukhov, vice-governor of St. Petersburg Mikhail Manevich), and raider takeovers enterprises, and falsifications in elections at various levels.

Confrontation at the White House, 1993.

Fraud and “black PR” in elections at various levels originate from the 90s. The climax was the presidential elections of 1996, when the so-called. The “seven bankers” represented by major financiers achieved Yeltsin’s re-election despite his extremely low rating. A symbol of the campaign and dirty technologies is the Xerox box in which Yeltsin’s campaign staff took more than $500,000 from the White House.

Yeltsin’s call (“Take as much sovereignty as you can swallow”) in Tatarstan, as in Chechnya, was taken literally, 1990.

Another murder.

Election rally in Rostov-on-Don, June 1996.

Vladislav Listyev, killed in 1995.

In the State Duma.

ECONOMY

In the 90s, residents of Russia had to endure (who managed) two major economic disasters: the “shock therapy” of the young reformers in the early 90s (price liberalization, reduction in government orders, vouchers and loans-for-shares auctions) and the 1998 default. As a result, millions of people did not receive wages for months, production stopped, and entire cities went hungry. By 1997, according to official data, the decline in GDP was 40.7%, and the proportion of the population below the poverty line by 1999 was 30%.

Early 90s. Liberalization of prices led to their increase by 10-12 times, while pensions were raised only by 70%.

Currency exchange in Moscow in the winter of 1993.

Everyday life of pensioners in the early 90s

Yeltsin learns from Prime Minister Kiriyenko about the inevitability of a default, August 1998.

Rally after the 1998 default. “It will be worse for everyone for about six months, then a reduction in prices, filling the consumer market with goods, and by the fall of 1992 - stabilization of the economy, a gradual improvement in people’s lives” (Boris Yeltsin, October 1991).

Miners in Moscow in 1998.

The savior of the nation is the head of the IMF Michel Camdessus. The whole country was waiting for his approval for the next loan to Russia on TV screens.

Residents of Primorye blocked railway in protest against price increases, 1998.

PUBLIC LIFE

Widespread dirt and trade, petty racketeering and wars between gangster groups coexisted with the “new” performance culture and the openness of everything that could be discovered. The streets of Russian cities were filled with street children and beggars. A hit among this category of Russians was “Moment” glue in a plastic bag - substance abuse became a real plague at the end of the last century.

During a rock concert, 1996.

Such people could be found in almost every city.

Artist Oleg Kulik and his performance in Moscow.

Club life.

In the 90s, Russia embarked on the path of global reforms, which turned into innumerable disasters for the country - rampant banditry, population decline, sharp drop standard of living. For the first time, Russians learned what price liberalization, a financial pyramid and default are.

Half a liter for the price of a Volga

In August 1992, Russian citizens were given the opportunity to purchase privatization checks (vouchers), which could be exchanged for assets state enterprises. The authors of the reforms promised that for a voucher, the nominal value of which was 10 thousand rubles, the population could buy two Volgas, but by the end of 1993 it could barely be exchanged for two bottles of vodka. However, the most enterprising players who had access to classified information were able to make a fortune from privatization checks.

Change - I don’t want to

Up to July 1, 1992 official rate ruble corresponded to 56 kopecks for one American dollar, but for a mere mortal to purchase currency at such a rate, inappropriate market price, it was impossible. Subsequently, the government equated the dollar to the exchange rate, and it suddenly soared to 125 rubles, that is, 222 times. The country has entered an era of currency speculation.

Both for yourself and for others

Everyone who found themselves in the foreign exchange business in the early 90s fell under the “roof”. The currency speculators were protected either by bandits or the police. Considering the solid margin (the difference between the real market rate and the speculative one), both the currency traders themselves and their “roof” earned good money. So, from 1000 American dollars then you could make $100. In the most lucky days a currency speculator could earn up to 3,000 bucks.

Shrink belts

In 1991, grocery stores were usually divided into two parts: one selling goods without restrictions, the other selling goods using coupons. In the first one you could find black bread, marinades, seaweed, pearl barley or barley, and canned food. In the second, after standing in a huge line, you could use coupons to buy milk, ham, frozen fish, rice, millet, flour, eggs, butter, tea, candy, vodka and cigarettes. At the same time, the volumes of purchased products were strictly limited - 1 kg of flour, 1 dozen eggs, 1 liter of butter.

Prices are crazy

Changes in the cost of essential goods were the main indicator of the deteriorating economic situation in the country. So, if at the end of 1991 a loaf of bread cost 1.8 rubles, then at the end of January, after the liberalization of prices, you had to pay 3.6 rubles for it. Further - more: in June 1992, the price tag for bread jumped to 11 rubles, in November - to 20. By January 1994, the price for a loaf of bread had already reached 300 rubles. In just over 2 years, bread prices have risen 166 times!

I can't afford a cloak

The record holder for price increases was communal services, which increased 147 times over the period 1992-93. At the same time, salaries were increased only 15 times. What was the purchasing power of the ruble? For example, in June 1993, the average salary in the country was 22 thousand rubles. 1 kg butter cost 1400-1600 rubles, 1 kg of meat - 2000 rubles, half a liter of vodka - 1200 rubles, a liter of gasoline (AI-78) -1500 rubles, women's raincoat -30,000 rubles.

Everything to the market

Many Russians had to change their field of activity in order to somehow survive. The most popular profession at the dawn of the 90s was the “shuttle trader”. According to some data, up to a quarter of able-bodied citizens of the Russian Federation were suppliers of consumer goods. It is difficult to establish the exact earnings of the shuttle traders, since almost all the money was put into circulation. On average, in one trip it was possible to sell goods worth 200-300 dollars.

Deadly product

Alcohol consumption in the mid-90s reached maximum performance in the entire history of our country - 18 liters per person per year. They drank mostly surrogates and cheap imported products. It’s all to blame for the exorbitant excise tax of 90%, which left high-quality domestic vodka – Stolichnaya, Pshenichnaya, Russian – gathering dust in warehouses.” Number deaths from poisoning with low-quality alcohol, among which the Dutch Royal alcohol was in the lead, reached 700 thousand annually.

Frightening decline

The 90s are remembered for catastrophic demographic indicators. According to the calculations of deputies of the Communist Party faction, in the period from 1992 to 1998, the natural population decline exceeded 4.2 million people, and the number of the country's working population decreased annually by an average of 300 thousand. During this period, approximately 20 thousand villages were depopulated.

No one needs

In May 1992, the Russian government repealed the pension law in force in the USSR and introduced new standards, to which reduction factors were applied. As a result of the scandalous innovation, the real pensions of about 35 million Russians were halved. The contingent of street vendors will primarily come from among pensioners.

Survive at any cost

On September 30, 1991, mortuary workers and forensic experts from a number of cities met in Khabarovsk Far East to discuss issues of survival during a crisis. In particular, they touched upon the issues of entering markets for organs removed from corpses. And there was something to bargain about. So, eyeball cost a thousand dollars, a kidney - $14 thousand, a liver - $20 thousand.

Money down the drain

On August 17, 1998, the Russian government declared a default. In just a few months, the dollar exchange rate soared by 300%. Total losses Russian economy were then valued at $96 billion, commercial banks lost $45 billion, the corporate sector - $33 billion, ordinary citizens - $19 billion.

Defend yourself

On July 8, 1991, during another attack by the Caucasian mafia on one of the mines in the Magadan region, a kilogram of gold was stolen. And again the Kolyma police were unable to help. Then law enforcement authorities allowed state gold miners to arm themselves. After all, it was weapons that were the main factor restraining bandits from attacking free miners.

Bloody years

The mid-90s in Russia were marked by an unprecedented rampant banditry. According to FSB Major General Alexander Gurov, about 32 thousand intentional murders were registered per year, of which 1.5 thousand were contract killings. Old people especially suffered. Over the course of a couple of the most terrible years, in Moscow alone, about 15 thousand lonely elderly people were killed because of apartments.

Coveted fast food

The first McDonald's in Russia, which appeared on Pushkin Square in January 1990, caused an unprecedented stir. Over 25 thousand applications were submitted for 630 jobs. The monthly salary of a McDonald's employee could reach 300 rubles, which exceeded the average salary in the country. Prices at McDuck were outrageous. For example, for a Big Mac you had to pay 3 rubles. 75 kop. For comparison, lunch in a regular canteen cost 1 ruble.

In 1991, a new large letter “M” appeared in Moscow, and this was not the entrance to the metro, but the first McDonald’s fast food restaurant in the USSR. Yugoslav builders erected the largest McDonald's in Europe with 900 seats on Pushkin Square of the former Lira cafe. Canadians calculated that with any influx of public, visitors would wait no more than 2-3 minutes for their turn, but Moscow McDonald's broke all records, welcoming 30-40 thousand people every day! This record has not yet been broken. The queue that formed near this restaurant covered the entire nearby public garden. After this, McDonald's philosophy as the fastest eatery simply collapsed. In Russia, this restaurant has become a cult establishment, a real landmark of the capital. Before going inside, visitors had to breathe down each other’s necks for about an hour, but inside they were fascinated by the interior, the European and Japanese halls, the miracle of the Big Mac, and the smiling and efficient nature of the young salespeople.

Since the 90s, the massive accumulation of initial capital has created the opportunity to earn big and real “green” money and the opportunity to spend it. Large amounts of capital were invested in computers, and the country's need for this technology was at least 10 million units. To "Hurray!" Any kind of car was available: bad Singaporean ones, used American ones, stolen from God knows where, without any documentation, etc. By reselling just one computer you could earn about 40 thousand rubles, and at that time this was a colossal amount with which you could afford two Zhigul cars.

Businesses needed banks where money could be stored and processed. They didn’t even try to stir up the State Bank. The rubles were just lying there like dead weight. Despite the “predatory conditions”, 60% of the profit went to the state; already in March 1990, more than 200 commercial banks opened. The government is beginning to recognize that the dollar no longer costs 60 kopecks, but 1 ruble 80 kopecks. But on the currency exchange the rate coincided with the black market rate - 21 rubles per 1 dollar. Since the dollar is captured by the USSR, a whole network of “currencies” is rapidly developing.

Nelson Mandella - the story of his fall and meteoric rise

After Luis Corvalan was released and the campaigns of solidarity with American prisoners of conscience came to naught, the only one on the list of the struggle for liberation remains the leader of the black majority in South Africa - Nelson Mandella. A rare occasion, the USSR, languishing behind the walls of the Apartheid regime, demands his release along with the rest of the world. However, Mandella will spend 27 years, 6 months and 6 days behind bars. Racism was criticized by leading Western countries, UN sanctions were applied against South Africa, new president South African Declerk, who was called the South African Gorbachev, frees Mandella and lifts the ban on the activities of the African National Congress of the main black organization. Mandella stated that his goal was to abolish all Apartheid laws and hold free elections on the principle of “one person, one vote.” As a result, he will achieve his goal, and in the parliamentary elections blacks will receive 63% of the mandates, and Mandella himself was elected the first black president of South Africa.

Abolition of censorship – freedom of broadcasting

Radio waves emerge from censorship control and the first non-state radio stations in history begin to operate. On medium ultrashort waves in the Baltics and in Moscow, modern popular music and news are now broadcast live. The most popular stations at that time: “Pioneers”, “M1” in Lithuania and SNC in Moscow, and of course the most successful project together with the French - “Europe Plus”. The presenters are now called DJs, and Russian-language music is excluded from the regular playlist. 2 hours a day on the equipment of the Faculty of Journalism at the most famous university in the country - Moscow State University - the information station "Echo of Moscow" begins to report.

The biggest scandal of the 90s in Russia

The newspaper “Soviet Russia” reported information provided by the editors of the first secretary of the Krasnodar regional party committee, Ivan Poloskov: “12 tanks were detained in the Novorossiysk port, which the ANT cooperative tried to sell abroad. It was immediately clear that the ANT case was an attack on business in general. Entrepreneurs sold the Motherland wholesale and retail, and only party bodies continue to defend state interests. The combination of a private owner and a tank can scare anyone, although the charter of the state cooperative concern approved by the government states that “the export and import of weapons is prohibited.” ANT is paralyzed, its leader Ryazhentsev manages to escape to Hungary. This case will be closed in three years, and Ryazhentsev will even be given an apology.

The first measures of the capitals of the USSR

In the spring of 1990, power in Moscow and Leningrad passed from the city committee to the party of Democrats of the first call. The Democratic Russia association wins the city elections. The Moscow Council was headed by Mikhail Popov and the Leningrad Council was headed by Anatoly Sobchak.

An association of Leningrad primitivists is in fashion: artists and musicians, artists with beards and vests, named after Dmitry Shagin, they are called Mitki and paint paintings with titles like “They hit me with a board - I lie in pain and anguish”, “Mitki take the gun from Mayakovsky” , “Mitki brings his ears to Van Gogh.” In the old understanding, artists are workers of the easel and canvas. The Mitkas were not painters at all, but they considered themselves more than just artists. It turns out that in order to become more than a recognized painter, you need to be able to draw just a little bit. Among other things, Mitki presents fantasies on the themes of cult movie characters: Chapaev, Sukhov and Zhigulovo. The public exclaims “Cool!”, and experts talk about the first project in the genre of Soviet folk mythology. Boris Grebenshchikov and Andrei Makarevich consider themselves to be Mitkas. Shevchuk, Butusov and Chizh take part in Mitkovo gatherings. Soil conceptualism is actively promoted in the image of drunkards who don’t give a damn under the program motto “Duc, fir-fry.”

Party politics

The long-standing dream of patriotic orthodoxies is coming true - Russia should have its own party, its own Central Committee. The party conference of Russian communists convened in 1990 developed into the founding congress of the Communist Party of the RSFSR. Although both Marxist and democratic platforms make presentations at the congress, the game is one-sided. The leadership of the future RCP is even more conservative than the Central Committee of the CPSU. At the congress they curse perestroika, and the hero of the fight against ANT, Krasnodar resident Ivan Poloskov, is elected first secretary of the new Central Committee. Those who have not yet left the party are perplexed: what are they doing now? Automatically enrolled in Poloskovites? Or do they continue to be under Gorbachev?

German reunification

Back in 1988, before his book about perestroika, Gorbachev wrote that the issue of German unification should be resolved in 100 years. Then Chancellor Helmut Kohl said that this problem was not on the agenda. However, after it collapsed in November 1989 Berlin Wall, events began to develop rapidly. In December 1989, the two Germanys entered into an agreement on cooperation and good neighborliness as different states. But already in early February, Kohl proposed creating a German monetary union, and at a meeting in Moscow, he sought recognition from Gorbachev: the issue of the unity of the German nation should be decided by the Germans themselves. East German Christian Democrats win the first free elections in the GDR.

Turkish tea – dust in bags and complete tastelessness

There is a crisis in the supply of the main soft drink. There is a catastrophic shortage of tea in the country. Sales using coupons in many areas, even in Leningrad. Turkey buys 30 thousand tons of packaged tea. Purple and yellow plump packs with the inscription “Chaikur” appear on the shelves. Experts equate it to the second grade of Georgian tea. In general, this is still tea, although the contents of the bag are similar to dust and production waste. The brew turns out unattractive, not aromatic and tasteless. There were even rumors that this tea was radioactive. The Turks were very offended, and in order to justify their name they give instructions in newspapers and on television on how to pour boiling water correctly and how long to steam it.

The first president of the USSR - Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev

Gorbachev strengthens state power. He decides to become president of the USSR. The Supreme Council establishes this post during an extraordinary congress of deputies, where they must approve this resolution and elect the first president. Only 46 votes in the voting procedure are not enough to make the election universal. But at the congress itself they are elected without any alternative. On March 15, Gorbachev takes an oath on the constitution. From then on he would avoid the title " Secretary General Central Committee of the CPSU".

A serious innovation in women's fashion. Leggings and leggings are on sale. Legs covered in black and color are part of the idea of ​​beauty at the turn of the decade. To begin with, it’s worth clarifying that leggings are thick tights with the foot cut off. Long leggings are worn with a long shirt or a newfangled miniskirt. And the ankles are decorated with openwork cuffs. The record kiosks constantly play a song: “Your green leggings killed me like a moose.” Tight-fitting women's trousers - leggings - are slightly tighter than leggings. The leggings are stretched along the length of the leg with straps, just like sweatpants. Those who were accustomed to tucking their trousers into their boots were especially pleased.

Death of Viktor Tsoi

On August 15, 1990, the leader of the super-popular group “Kino,” 28-year-old Viktor Tsoi, was killed in a car accident. His death came as a shock to millions of fans throughout the Soviet Union. At the zenith of fame, the first star of the youth sub-culture dies. While relaxing near Riga, Viktor Tsoi was returning by car from a morning fishing trip. He fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into an oncoming Ikarus. In Leningrad, fans of the Kino group are somewhat haunted by Tsoi’s grave at the Bogoslovskoye Cemetery. In Moscow, the walls of a house on Arbatsky Lane are covered with lines from his songs. The band's musicians call the album recorded by Tsoi "Black". The premiere of the program, the last concert of the group, a crowded hall, an empty stage, a soundtrack.

Media in the early 90s in Russia - liberation from censorship

The press and other media are now free - proclaims the press law, the draft of which could not be published in newspapers for a long time, as censorship prohibited it. Glasnost and freedom of speech are changing little by little. Censorship structures are only renamed into an organization for the protection of State Secrets. But formally, interference in the activities of the press is prohibited, and private individuals can also establish media. All publications are registered with the State Press Committee. The newspaper Izvestia receives the very first certificate. The private weekly Kommersant calls entrepreneurs its audience. Post-Soviet journalism is gradually beginning to take shape. The circulation of the weekly newspaper “Arguments and Facts” became a sensation. In 1990, having reached 33 million 302 thousand copies, they were entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the most popular periodical in the world.