Moscow Region determined to defend their stake in television network

A standoff has broken out at the Moskovia television network between the shareholders – the Television Technical Centre (56%) and the government of the Moscow Region (44%). Last night, the Moskovia’s office in Ostankino was occupied by armed men. Earlier, TTC convened a shareholder meeting at which Moskovia's new management was appointed with Vladimir Zhelonkin as the director general. The other major shareholder had not been even notified of the meeting, according to the Interfax news agency. The newly appointed management arrived in the office accompanied by their security officers and demanded from the old management to turn over their duties. Moscow Region governor Boris Gromov’s aide, who came later, failed to enter the office – the new guard did not let him in. The Moscow Region’s government will contest the controversial shareholder meeting and its decisions in court, Viktor Zavyalov, the Moscow Region’s media minister. According to Mr. Zavyalov, the meeting was illegal, since as early as on Monday, an arbitration court sequestrated the company’s controlling package.