Gazprom-Media of Russia scheduled an extraordinary meeting of NTV shareholders for April 3.

They insist the meeting will take place and they are ready to name their candidates for NTV's board of directors. Media-MOST press service head Dmitry Ostalsky noted that the Preobrajensky municipal court in Moscow banned the NTV shareholders' meeting on March 30, saying it violated rights of many NTV shareholders. Gazprom-Media already has 46 percent of NTV. Media-Most currently holds 49.5 percent. The disputed 19 percent of NTV shares had already been turned over to the gas giant as part of a deal to eliminate Media-Most's $262m debts to Gazprom. After this court decision Gazprom's head stated that the gas company took the control over NTV and intended to strive for changing its administration and removing Gusinsky. Meanwhile Gusinsky remains in Spain released on bail and pending a court decision on his extradition to Russia. His supporters say the charges against him are politically motivated. NTV television, that is part of Media-MOST, has strongly criticized Putin and his antiterrorist campaign in Chechnya. The Kremlin denies it is harassing Gusinsky for political ends.