Strange things are happening in the Russian American press. A group from Kiev arrived in New York and, on October 25, bought the oldest Russian daily newspaper in America, Novoe Russkoe Slovo, and the oldest Russian radio station, Narodnaya Volna. With the exception of two newspapers associated with The Forward, not a single immigrant newspaper has made any noise about it.

Why is this happening? Are 10,000 readers not interested in knowing that a newspaper, in existence in America for 96 years, will be under foreign management for the first time in its history?

The Forward was the first to report—not indifferently—that Novoe Russkoe Slovo was to be sold and that the Media International Group (MIG) had taken over the oldest Russian immigrant newspaper.

We are interested in the new faces, the personalities and the direction they will take the paper. Will they lean towards Ukraine? Moscow? Washington? Jerusalem? Will they be open to all sides? Unfortunately, the new management has been vague on these questions or has kept silent. They did not return the Forward’s phone calls.

What is going on at the Novoe Russkoe Slovo? According to Ukrainian publications, which are joining MIG, Vadim Rabinovich—president of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Society of Ukraine—owns the Group.

On October 25, 2003, the Jewish News in Kiev reporting on this acquisition said, “a board of directors will be managing this media empire, with three of the four seats controlled by the chairman of MIG...Reliable sources have said that of the substantial amount of money paid for the purchase of the newspaper and radio, only fifteen million dollars will be invested in the newspaper.”According to one source in New York, the objective of the investment is “to make Novoe Russkoe Slovo the most popular international Russian-language newspaper in the world.”

The Jewish News said that Novoe Russkoe Slovo picked up its news from Moscow television and various Moscow newspapers.

“I consider this transaction to be suitable and opportune,” said Vladimir Katzman, MIG’s managing director. “People form opinions about present-day Ukraine without any valid sources of information. We are certain that our team, together with the American journalists, will make Novoe Russkoe Slovo new. Not only will the concept of the paper change, but the strategy of its evolution as well. In any case, it’s a prestigious move for our media group and for Ukraine to be in the international information arena. With regard to our Ukrainian readership, it will now have the opportunity to receive more accurate information about happenings in America. And our Ukrainian radio listeners will be able to listen live to opinions of the Diaspora, American politicians and journalists, ” said Katzman to the Jewish News.

When asked about the cost of the paper in New York, Larissa Mudrak, the new editor-in-chief of Novoe Russko Slovo responded in English: “No comment.” She went on to say that

“it is important to truly make this paper new and international. In the coming year, the newspaper will be distributed not just in the USA and Canada, but in Ukraine, Russia and various European countries as well. From the start of the New Year, our readers can expect numerous surprises, though the traditions of the newspaper will be preserved. Valery Weinberg, who has been the embodiment of Novoe Russkoe Slovo for the last forty years, has been chosen as the chairman of the board of directors. For me personally, it is most important that Ukrainian journalists are indeed becoming international. I am sure that now there is one platform left for the evolution of free speech. We are open to collaboration with our favorite Ukrainian journalists.”

On October 30, 2004, Strana.ru, the Russian Internet publication, posted: “The new holding unites Novoe Russkoe Slovo and Narodnaya Volna with the Ukrainian publishing house Capital News, the Israeli newspaper MIG and the Internet portal of America, Israel, Russia and Ukraine. In the November 8 weekend NRS editionWeinberg gave an extensive interview—apparently his farewell—in which he attempted to describe what is going on with the paper. He managed to avoid mentioning the sale figures or to name the buyers, who now own controlling shares of the paper and radio station. Weinberg, who holds 10-15 percent of the shares, is considered a partner and the chairman of the board of directors of the new holding. If this post and somehow warms this miser’s soul, then, by all means, let it be. But, let’s remember that 85 percent of NRS and NV shares have sailed over to Kiev and the local media magnate, Vadim Rabinovich, and that Rabinovich’s people occupy 3 of the 4 seats of the board of directors. It is also safe to assume that Weinberg’s nepotism at NRS have come to an end. Vadim Rabinovich’s son, Oleg, and editor in chief, Larissa Mudrak, now have editorial control at NRS.”

In an interview from Kiev with The Forward, Vadim Rabinovich confirmed that the acquisition of NRS did take place and announced, “Our primary objective is to turn the NRS into the Financial Times of the Russian speaking world.” In an email to the editorial staff of The Forward, he said: “The paper will be sold in Moscow, Kiev and all the European capitals. There is currently no other newspaper that serves as a connecting bridge.” Rabinovich even joked that he “wouldn’t be opposed to buying The Forward.”