Russian TV faces probe over protests coverage (AP)

MOSCOW ? An independent Russian television station says prosecutors have launched a probe into its coverage of opposition rallies in December.

Dozhd's editor-in-chief Nataliya Sindeyeva posted a copy of the prosecutors' letter, which says the probe is conducted on a request by a lawmaker from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party.

The lawmaker, Robert Shlegel, asked the prosecutors to find out if there was "foreign financing" of the rallies' coverage.

The rallies in Moscow drew tens of thousands of people to protest December's fraud-tainted parliamentary election won by United Russia. Putin has accused the U.S. of instigating the protests to weaken Russia.

The probe against Dozhd follows a management reshuffle at Ekho Moskvy, a top independent radio station.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120216/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_media_freedom

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