MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev argued on Tuesday that the true purpose of current audits of Russia's National Reserve Bank is "to cut off the possibility of financing" liberal newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

file photo"This is more evidence that free press is a thorn in the side of the current government. But Novaya Gazeta has been through worse times. It exists and, I'm sure, will continue to exist," Gorbachev told Interfax.

Earlier on Tuesday, oligarch Alexander Lebedev, who co-owns Novaya Gazeta with its staff, told Interfax he had no money left for funding the paper.

Gorbachev told Radio Liberty last week that he could not exclude the possibility that the decision to replace the board of directors of the Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio and remove independent directors from it meant that Novaya Gazeta might be another target.

"Anything may happen," he replied when asked in a program whether he thought Novaya Gazeta might share the plight of Ekho Moskvy. "Let me say in advance that I will defend it. There may various options for response. Not oral but practical."

Gazprom-Media, a holding company that owns Ekho of Moscow, demanded the replacement of the radio station's board and the removal of independent directors from it in what the station's editor, Alexei Venediktov, described as a form of pressure.

Venediktov and first deputy editor Vladimir Varfolomeyev are leaving the board.

Keywords: Russia, Media - Russia News - Russia

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev argued on Tuesday that the true purpose of current audits of Russia's National Reserve Bank is "to cut off the possibility of financing" liberal newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

"This is more evidence that free press is a thorn in the side of the current government. But Novaya Gazeta has been through worse times. It exists and, I'm sure, will continue to exist," Gorbachev told Interfax.

Earlier on Tuesday, oligarch Alexander Lebedev, who co-owns Novaya Gazeta with its staff, told Interfax he had no money left for funding the paper.

Gorbachev told Radio Liberty last week that he could not exclude the possibility that the decision to replace the board of directors of the Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio and remove independent directors from it meant that Novaya Gazeta might be another target.

"Anything may happen," he replied when asked in a program whether he thought Novaya Gazeta might share the plight of Ekho Moskvy. "Let me say in advance that I will defend it. There may various options for response. Not oral but practical."

Gazprom-Media, a holding company that owns Ekho of Moscow, demanded the replacement of the radio station's board and the removal of independent directors from it in what the station's editor, Alexei Venediktov, described as a form of pressure.

Venediktov and first deputy editor Vladimir Varfolomeyev are leaving the board.