The former Communist Party newspaper Pravda is returning to print as an independent without its customary portrait of Lenin or allegiance to the party's Central Committee.
In today's edition, obtained Friday in advance, editors of the paper that for 79 years faithfully expressed the views of Lenin's party also pleaded for contributions to stay afloat."Today, Pravda is left practically without any financial support whatsoever," a front-page statement said. "In this critical situation for the newspaper we appeal to our readers: The publication of Pravda will depend largely on you yourselves."
Editors did not detail the financial problems, but the paper apparently is suffering from the collapse of the Communist Party, which was its sponsor.
Today's Pravda cost 15 kopeks, 5 kopeks more.
The paper, whose name means "truth" in Russian, was closed for a week by Russian President Boris Yeltsin for allegedly supporting the failed hard-line Communist coup. Editors said they had no choice but to print the conspirators' statements and decrees, and that their staff reporting on the coup was neutral.
They charged Yeltsin with exacting political revenge, but agreed to register Pravda as an independent publication with the Russian government.