Ukraine TV Owner Dies Mysteriously

Michael Hedges June 30, 2005

Months after the Orange Revolution set in motion a change in guard in Ukraine the old guard is losing its grip on media. But tactics don’t seem to change.

Ihor Pluzhnikov, majority owner of popular TV channel Inter, died June 22, according to several news agency accounts. He had taken ill earlier in the month while on holiday in the Czech Republic, was rushed to a German hospital and fell into a coma. The illness was reported as toxic hepatitis.

Pluzhnikov was a member of Parliament and deputy head of the Social Democratic Party-United (SDPUo), the biggest loser in the post-Orange Ukraine election last December. He was associated with the “Group of Seven” Ukrainian oligarchs who had favor with former President Leonid Kushma. Other Ukrainian billionaires controlling media interests include Viktor Pinchuk, Kushma’s son-in-law, and Rinat Akhmetov.  Forum, a Ukrainian internet news site, reported that Pluzhnikov’s parliament voting card was used 91 times between June 14th and 22nd.

Pressure had recently been applied to Pluzhnikov, according to Telekritika and quoted by Erasia Daily Monitor, “to choose between liberty and the TV station.”  He was thought to own 79% of Inter, with the remaining shares owned by Russia’s Channel 1. The channel serves Ukraine’s east and south, territory most supportive of the pro-Russian former Ukrainian President Kuchma. One source suggested that Pluzhnikov may have sold his interest shortly before falling ill. A Inter spokesperson, interviewed June 23rd on TV 5 Kanal – a television channel owned by Viktor Pinchuk – that no sale took place.

Ukraine’s second most popular TV channel, seen in the west and north, is Studio 1+1. It was the Studio 1+1 news crew who famously refused to follow the state provided “talking points” as the mass demonstrations of the Orange Revolution took shape. Central European Media Enterprises (CME) owns at least part of Studio 1+1, though it, too, has been rumored for sale.

President Yuschenko and Chairman Murdoch

Ukraine President Viktor Yuschenko meets almost daily with steady stream of foreign officials, diplomats and business leaders to tell them that the doors to good relations and good business with Ukraine are wide open. The President declared his government’s “steadfast” commitment to press freedom in a meeting with Rupert Murdoch, visiting Ukraine, on June 21st, the day before Pluzhnikov’s death.

“I was sad to learn about the premature death of people’s deputy Ihor Olexandrovich Pluzhnikov, “ said President Yuschenko in a press statement. “The young and lively person has passed away. This is a bitter bereavement for all people who knew Ihor Olexandrovich.”  Yuschenko is recovering from dioxin poisoning.

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