How does the Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner cover the war? [updated]
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose editor Dmitry Muratov was a co- laureate of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his courageous fight for freedom of expression, announced that it would remove all of its war coverage due to the threat of criminal prosecution its journalists and readers could face.
“Military censorship in Russia has quickly moved into a new phase: from the threat of blocking and closing publications (almost fully implemented) it has moved to the threat of criminal prosecution of both journalists and citizens who spread information about military hostilities that is different from the press releases of the Ministry of Defense.
There is no doubt that this threat will be realised”, the newspaper said in its statement.
The newspaper said it could not risk the freedom of its staff but also could not ignore its readers’ desire for it to continue working, even under military censorship. It would therefore remove materials “on this topic” from its website and social networks.
“We continue to report on the consequences that Russia is facing: the developing economic crisis, the rapid decline in living standards, problems with access to foreign medicines and technologies, and the persecution of dissidents, including for anti-war statements.”
‼️Дорогие друзья
Военная цензура в России перешла к угрозе уголовного преследования как журналистов, так и граждан, которые распространяют информацию о боевых действиях, отличную от пресс-релизов Минобороны.
Поэтому мы удаляем материалы на эту тему.
? https://t.co/myi4Slcgz7 pic.twitter.com/4QwSTX6Znn
— Новая Газета (@novaya_gazeta) March 4, 2022
Russian media is under pressure from authorities to not use the word “war” to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “However, we continue to call war war. We are waiting for the consequences”, Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta’s editor Dmitry Muratov had earlier in an email interview with The New Yorker’s editor David Remnick.
Muratov and Maria Ressa, co-founder of news media Rappler in the Philippines, were awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression. At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions, the Nobel committee said.
Describing his newsroom the day of the attack, Muratov said:
“We gathered at the editorial office a few hours early. Everyone had a clear understanding that Putin, by his decision, had destroyed the future for younger generations, that the country would become a pariah, that we in no way would support this war. Our office managers brought in body armour and helmets from the warehouse, which had been lying idle for several years. The pressure on Novaya Gazeta and other media began immediately. It’s got to the point of absurdity. We received an order to ban the use of the words “war,” “occupation,” “invasion.” However, we continue to call war war. We are waiting for the consequences.”
Muratov said his newspaper will “keep working for as long as we can”.
He informs his newspaper has over thirty million readers on social networks. In the past few days, Novaya Gazeta has had more than four and a half million views on the site.
“I think we’re in for a very difficult period. That’s because we did not heed the state’s recommendation to incorporate the official point of view in our assessment of events.”
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