The View from Russia: Russian Press Coverage of the 2004 Presidential Elections in Ukraine

Abstract

The article investigates Russian print media coverage of the 2004 presidential elections in the period between January 1 and December 31, 2004. The content of six Russian newspapers is surveyed. The article's methodology is based on a combination of content and frame analysis. The former is used to examine quantitative patterns of coverage as well as to identify what topics and issues received media attention. Frame analysis is employed as the method to examine how news was presented and interpreted. The findings of this study demonstrate that all selected media but the official Rossiiskaia gazeta, in spite of significant differences in their politics, were initially reluctant to express their support for Viktor Yanukovych and raised doubts regarding his candidacy until the end of September when Yanukovych came out in support of the official status of the Russian language. At the same time, throughout the period Viktor Yushchenko was portrayed as the candidate backed by the West and thereby considered automatically unacceptable to Russian interests. Furthermore, the Ukrainian elections were often presented not as an internal Ukrainian affair but as another clash between the West and Russia over zones of influence in the post-Soviet space.