Kalinovskaya: critics of Sochi Olympiad were not let to "Channel One" programme

A scandal burst out at filming the programme "Freedom and Justice" on "Channel One" of the Russian television. This is asserted by the participants invited from Sochi. The programme was on preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics; however, Natalia Kalinovskaya, the chair of the Sochi Territorial Self-Government Body (TOS) "Psou", could not get into the channel studio, although she arrived in Moscow at the invitation and expense of the programme.

The filming of the programme was attended by the Mayor of Sochi Anatoly Pakhomov , the President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov, Deputy from the "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) Party Alexei Mitrofanov, State Duma Deputy and former boxer Nikolai Valuev, volunteers and well-known athletes, said Natalia Kalinovskaya.

"15 minutes prior to start of recording and access into the studio, I was approached by a young lady, who presented herself as deputy director, and said that I was not able to participate in the programme," said Kalinovskaya.

Finally, the authors of the programme explained that the demand not to let her to the programme originated from "a man from Sochi named Pakhomov," who made the decision after reviewing the lists of participants in the programme, said Natalia Kalinovskaya.

"All the time, when the programme was recorded, that is, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., I stayed in the dressing room of the "Freedom and Justice". The entrance to the studio was just blocked; I was explained that there was no place for me there. Then, I was taken back to the hotel and was told that I could fly back home at the expense of the programme," said the woman.

The Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov has refuted – in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent – the fact that he had ordered not to let Natalia Kalinovskaya to the programme. According to his version, he did not know that the chair of the Sochi TOS "Psou" had come to the recording of the programme, and said that he respects her opinion.

The "Caucasian Knot" has not yet received any comments of the employees of "Channel One" on the statement of Natalia Kalinovskaya.