Russian region blurs journalist’s face in apparent retaliation for asking governor about promised maternity ward funds

The press service of the administration of Russia’s Vladimir region blurred the face of a local newspaper editor in official photos from a visit made by the governor, days after he threatened to sue the journalist over questions about a shuttered maternity ward.

The edit was first pointed out by local Telegram channel Pulse 33 Region: in photos the regional government released of Governor Alexander Avdeev’s trip to the town of Kolchugino, the face of Elena Frolova, editor-in-chief of the local outlet Kolchuginskiye Vesti, had been blurred out.

The blurring came after a tense exchange between Frolova and Avdeev at a meeting with journalists in Kolchugino, according to the outlet 7x7. Frolova reminded the governor that he had promised 167 million rubles to keep the towns maternity ward open, but the money never came through and the ward closed anyway. She said the closure had already led at least one local woman to have an abortion.

Avdeev responded by threatening to sue her twice over. “Yelena Frolova, if you find a quote where I said 167 million rubles would be allocated, if you find my quote, come to me. If not, I’ll take you to court a second time,” he said.

The outlet Chesnok reported that Avdeev had in fact given the 167 million ruble figure back in May. He also said he would sue if Frolova could not produce the woman she said had had an abortion because of the ward’s closure.