Home to Communist leader, Gennady Zyuganov, and a giant statue of Lenin, the region breeds Communist diehards anxious to ward off the economic deprivations of democracy. Outside the red belt, the party is vulnerable. This report examines the negative coverage given to the Communists by the media. At Moscow's TV station, rows of screens show Yeltsin vigorous in the midst of his campaign. Ksenia Ponomayova, the executive producer of news Programme Vremya, confirms that communism is bad for the media and admits to helping Yeltsin. Her partner Nikita Golovanov publishes the anti-Zyuganov propaganda sheet God Forbid where graphical wizardry transforms Zyuganov into a lizard with a flickering tongue. Communist party organiser, Gregori Rebrov denounces the publication as 'delirious'.

Produced by ABC Australia