Gazprom Media-Most deal

The Russian state gas company, Gazprom, says it has reached a deal on settling debts owed by the independent media group, Media-Most.

The debts of around two hundred million dollars are owed to Gazprom's media subsidiary.

A Gazprom spokesman Alfred Kokh said the deal would in no way compromise the editorial independence of Media-Most, whose various media outlets have been strongly critical of President Putin.

According to Gazprom, the head of Media-Most, Vladimir Gusinsky, was not involved in the agreement.

He fled abroad after being detained briefly this year and is wanted by the authorities for embezzlement. President Putin has vowed to curb the power of oligarchs in Russia, but correspondents say it is unclear whether the moves against Media-Most's owner stem from the desire to fight corruption or free speech.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service