The Defense Ministry violated state regulations when it equipped the car of the Oscar-winning film director Nikita Mikhalkov with a flashing blue light, the Prosecutor General’s Office said, Interfax reported Friday.
A flashing blue light allows a vehicle to ignore some traffic rules and usually is reserved for state officials. But Mikhalkov said in July that he was given one as the head of the ministry’s public council.
Prosecutors ruled that the ministry was not allowed to include the director on its list of people entitled to use flashing blue lights because he was not an official. But the ministry has also ordered the drafting of a new list of privileged drivers, prosecutors said, without elaborating whether Mikhalkov could be included.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
