In an act creepily reminiscent of the computer-based faking of reality described in Robert A. Heinlein's novel, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (where a sentient computer named Mike creates artificial television images), the Kremlin is now erasing the images of its opponents from television screens--not by censoring the show in which they appear, but instead by simply removing their images from the show. The article opens with these words:

On a talk show last fall, a prominent political analyst named Mikhail G. Delyagin had some tart words about Vladimir V. Putin. When the program was later televised, Mr. Delyagin was not. Not only were his remarks cut — he was also digitally erased from the show, like a disgraced comrade airbrushed from an old Soviet photo. (The technicians may have worked a bit hastily, leaving his disembodied legs in one shot.)

In a related story, the London Times reported on April 20, 2008 that Putin recently shut down a newspaper for reporting on his love life:

A newspaper that defied the Kremlin by reporting that President Vladimir Putin was planning to marry an Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast half his age was shut down yesterday.