His newspaper is one of the last bastions of the free press in Russia. Dmitry Muratov, editor of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, fights for freedom of the press but also for peace. On Tuesday, March 22, the Russian journalist decided to publicly show his support for the Ukrainian people, as reported West France† But that’s not all, he announced that he would be selling his 2021 Nobel Prize medal to help Ukrainian refugees. A strong, symbolic and committed gesture in a country where the press is silenced.
Made from an alloy of gold and silver, the medal bearing Alfred Nobel’s effigy will be subject to an appraisal at an auction house, which will then put it up for sale, Muratov explained in a press release published on the website. Novaya Gazeta† Proceeds will be used to help “refugee citizens, injured children and the sick in urgent need of treatment”he specified. Nearly 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian offensive on February 24, according to the latest UN count. West France†
A media committed to freedom of expression
At the same time, the newspaper Novaya Gazeta also called for “immediate” measures in Ukraine: a ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, the return of the bodies of the dead, the creation of humanitarian corridors and finally the provision of aid to civilians. A risky stance taken by a Russian media as the Kremlin tries to impose media censorship in the country.
But Dimitri Muratov’s newspaper is not the first attempt in terms of resistance. 2017, Novaya Gazeta for example, had published an article by Elena Milachina condemning the persecutions of the Chechen authorities against homosexuals. The same year, the Washington Post described the media as “Russia’s main opposition newspaper”. A beneficial union that has cost the lives of six employees of the newspaper since the 1990s, says … West France†
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly awarded to Dimitri Mouratov and Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, was the first to reward freedom of information as such, recalls The world†