Russian News Network Banned From Geneva Press Pool

EKATERINA KOTRIKADZE, NEWS DIRECTOR AND ANCHOR, TV RAIN: Well, it was really important to meet. And, of course, I support that they did meet. And it was extremely important to see to what Joseph Biden is speaking, because a lot of experts and journalists, including me in Moscow in Russia, we understand that he cannot do anything about the human rights violation inside of the country, but he at least can talk to Putin and remind him that world is watching. So, it was very important to understand and to see that the American president is not — is not a friend of Vladimir Putin anymore, like Mr. Trump was before. So it was — for Putin, Trump’s behavior was kind of a cake or a candy and kind of a stimulus to give him an opportunity to do whatever he wanted, understanding that no one would say a word about it. So, now the wording from the Biden administration and from the president himself is really a symbol that we’re not alone here, but still we understand that there is nothing concrete and there is nothing effective, efficient may be done from the American side, because Putin will not take the recommendations as something get that he needs to follow.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA: Yes.

KOTRIKADZE: So, that’s why we are here. And we understand that it was a really important meeting, but, still, we understand that we need to — we need to decide and fight the problems inside of Russia with our own power and our own tools that we have here. And these tools are not enough on this stage. For Putin, it was–

GOLODRYGA: Well–

KOTRIKADZE: Bianna, it was — I’m sorry to interrupt it. But, or Vladimir Putin, it was — as you have already mentioned, it was like a step forward, like a declaration from the American side that he is a leader of the very powerful country, that Vladimir Putin is not someone who just sits at the corner anymore, because, from the very beginning, Biden administration didn’t want to talk to him, didn’t want to meet him. Now Putin has shown to everyone that he is the guy who is invited to (AUDIO GAP) country, to Geneva, where the American president arrives, especially for him and talks to him like an equal.

GOLODRYGA: Yes.

KOTRIKADZE: So, this was Putin’s main idea and main goal. And he did accomplish it.