London Daily

Focus on the big picture.

Dmitry Muratov: This Nobel Peace Prize is for my colleagues who were killed

Dmitry Muratov: This Nobel Peace Prize is for my colleagues who were killed

EXCLUSIVE: As the world congratulates him on his Nobel Peace Prize, Russian newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov tells Anne McElvoy nothing will stop his fight for a free press

What must it be like, after years in the shadows, slogging away at investigations into the murders of Russian journalists and opposition figures, to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize? “A surprise,” says Dmitry Muratov wryly when I catch up with him by phone in the daze of media interviews and congratulations from strangers on the streets of Moscow.

The Norwegian “council of the gods” anointed Muratov, editor of Russia’s Novaya Gazeta, and Maria Ressa, a human rights and anti-fake news campaigner in the Philippines, as the recipients of this year’s award in recognition of the travails of journalists working in increasingly hostile and autocratic conditions around the world. Muratov has plugged away at the thankless and fraught task of bringing transparency to post-Soviet Russia since the Nineties — a veteran member of the awkward squad, undeterred by threats, near bankruptcies and the murder of six of his prominent journalists and friends.

He is speaking from the back of a car as he sets out to mark his win at a sedate tea party with Mikhail Gorbachev, the 90-year-old former Soviet president who has figurehead stature as a shareholder of the paper (together with Alexander Lebedev, whose son Evgeny is the proprietor of the Evening Standard). Lebedev senior and Gorbachev fought to keep the Novaya Gazeta alive in the Nineties; an odd couple protecting liberal journalists — one a high-ranking former KGB man, the other the last head of the Soviet Union. You don’t have to read too far between the lines to see that both had grave concerns about Russia’s direction and seeping corruption.

I ask Muratov, 59, how the Novaya Gazeta office responded to the award — in a year which has seen a tightening of clampdowns on Russian independent media, ranging from TV outlets to websites. “Well the editorial office started drinking. We are Russian people after all,” he laughs. That strikes me as a lighthearted take on events, since the photos show some pretty serious-looking faces.

The award honours reporting on corruption, crimes and an overall tightening of clampdowns on free expression in Russia have placed Muratov and his colleagues in no small danger. A ram’s head and a wreath were delivered to his office in 2018 after an exposé of a Kremlin-linked group believed to be acting in Africa and Syria.

Muratov with former President Mikhail Gorbachev

The Novaya has campaigned to bring to justice murderers of six prominent journalists and has published investigations into subjects such as torture in the military and prison system, the war in Ukraine and the intricate relationship between the power in Moscow and the lawless world of Chechnya.


This month marks the 15th anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya’s murder. She was a journalist of extraordinary determination who was gunned down at her apartment on October 7, 2006, in the midst of reporting on human rights abuses under the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his links with the Kremlin. Kadyrov remains in power today, with the dubious honour of possessing the longest list of serious human rights violations in the former Soviet states and a starring role as an eccentric but well-tolerated leader on televised conference calls lavishing tributes on Vladimir Putin.

“This award is not mine,” Muratov says tautly. “It was awarded to colleagues, who have been killed, who have perished — Anna Politkovskaya, Yuri Shchekochikhin, Natalya Estemirova, Anastasia Baburova, Stanislav Markelov…” It is rather shameful to be reminded of a list of journalists who met suspicious or violent deaths as a result of their reporting and whose names have somehow faded from the West’s consciousness. Shchekochikhin was an anti-corruption campaigner and one of the string of contributors, journalists and commentators connected to Novaya Gazeta. Together, they have made common cause in defending the liberal press against repressive legislation, denunciation, threats and worse.

Muratov has a blunt manner that veers between a factual list of obstacles and emotional intensity. He is also at pains to point out that this award goes “to our special correspondents who risk their lives in hot spots, in war zones, during natural disasters”. He tells me to watch the paper’s new film about Politkovskaya. Those close to him say that, despite his external toughness, the murder of Politkovskaya was the last straw for him emotionally. I remember it as the moment the defence of the free press collapsed in Russia — and it was followed by a wave of other killings, notably Boris Nemtsov, the charismatic opposition politician in 2015, and the attempted murder in the last year of Alexei Navalny, the leader of the main opposition. “We still have a duty to protect colleagues who perished. It is still unknown who is behind the killing of Politkovskaya, it is still unknown what substance was used to poison Shchekochikhin, it is still unknown who was behind the killing of Estemirova. And this editorial office will continue its investigations.”

Anna Politkovskaya

There are vocal critics who think the Nobel should have gone instead to Navalny, currently serving a jail sentence for illegal opposition activity — and that the Nobel judges fudged the moment and made a less controversial choice. This argument now rages in Russia’s schismatic opposition circles and Muratov took to the airways saying that he too would have given the prize to Navalny — and would use his platform as a Nobel-winner to advocate for the imprisoned dissident. Navalny tweeted from prison: “I sincerely congratulate Dmitry Muratov and @novaya_gazeta on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a well-deserved reward that was handed out on a very symbolic date. The day before the announcement was the 15th anniversary of the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya (who, unfortunately, isn’t the only murdered journalist of Novaya Gazeta), and this reminds us of what a high price those who refuse to serve the authorities have to pay... I am glad that by its decision (at least it seemed so), the Nobel Committee stressed that no matter how the likes, algorithms, private and public money or subscribers influence us, the main thing we need now and always is journalism that is not afraid to tell the truth.”

I wonder what Muratov thinks he has achieved given that murders of Russian liberal journalists and opposition figures tend to end up half-resolved at best with the real string-pullers in the dark — suspected but unnamed.

“Neither I nor Novaya Gazeta have a final understanding of who ordered the hit,” Politkovskaya’s son Ilya Politkovsky noted last week. The paper is campaigning for an extension to the 15-year moratorium statute of limitations on investigations into major crimes.

In the past few years the mood has darkened further, with incursions into Ukraine (still unresolved) and the seizure of Crimea. Only Putin sails on, heedless. Muratov’s interests have broadened into reporting on conflicts in the former Soviet states too. “There is a lot of talk about war nowadays, about Ukraine. In our country, which has lost almost 100 million people last century, military ideas are becoming popular. That needs investigating too”.

Muratov was born in Kuibyshev, southwestern Russia (now known as Samara). He studied the history of language at university where he became interested in journalism. After graduating, he served in the Soviet army working in communication and security and went into newspapers. In 1993, he and colleagues from a newspaper called Komsomolskaya Pravda left to start Novaya Gazeta. Their goal was to create an honest and independent news source. It started with two computers, one printer and staff working for free.

So what is next? Nobel or not, he’s the paper’s best-known voice and now a globally-recognised figure, sitting on scoops and, I suspect, emboldened by the recognition. “I am not able to tell you what our future investigations will be on. We always keep it under wraps until the very last moment.” He’s also moved to masterminding reports on ecological crises. “During the ecological disaster in Taymyr, our correspondents produced reports which ended up with the owners of Norilsk Nickel being fined $2 billion (for environmental abuses).” This, on the other hand, was not entirely unwelcome news for the Kremlin as Putin sought to clamp down on over-powerful oligarchs.

So what does independence mean now in practice and what are its limits? Alexander Lebedev has written in a recent memoir about his own travails, including attempts on his life and seizure of assets to push him out of public life — he helped bankroll the paper until a sustained campaign against him and attempts on his life convinced him to reduced his shareholding, while refusing (along with Gorbachev) to give up his symbolic stake and both remain prominent supporters of the paper.

Muratov says: “In the history of our newspaper, which will soon turn 30, we have never received a penny from the state. The rest is up to us: we write what we want.” He doesn’t “see any limitations” (and in fairness, a close reader will find criticisms of Putin’s popularity and economic record which are increasingly hard to find in Moscow’s strangled media).

Muratov’s award has come at a time when the Kremlin has insisted that critical media outlets declare themselves “agents of a foreign power”. That is a fate Novaya Gazeta has so far escaped.

When we spoke, Putin had not yet congratulated Muratov, there was only an ambiguous statement from the Kremlin suggesting that it might happen “in time”. Yesterday, Putin said: “If he doesn’t violate Russian law, and if he doesn’t give a reason to be declared a foreign agent, then he won’t be,” when asked if he can promise that Muratov will not be labelled as a foreign agent. If Muratov “hides behind the Nobel Prize like a shield in order to violate Russian law, then it means he’s doing it deliberately in order to attract attention to himself or for some other reason”. When I ask Muratov whether he would have liked to be congratulated, the short reply was “I didn’t understand it that way” (I don’t think he is exactly waiting on the Kremlin switchboard). He switches tack sharply: “Navalny has congratulated us on receiving the prize. Nothing more to say.” So, like much else in Russia, the Nobel comes with a bundle of thorns as well as flowers. But then Dmitry Muratov is used to that.

Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
0:00
0:00
Close
Unelected PM of the UK holds an emergency meeting because a candidate got voted in… which he says is a threat to democracy…
You Are So Beautiful
Rob Schneider explains California reparations legislation.
Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Who knew badminton could get so intense?
An old French tune (by Georges Brassens) Pomplamoose ft. John Schroeder
Farmers break through police barriers in Brussels.
Sattahip Motor Show 20
London's Iconic British Telecom Tower Sold To Become Hotel
SONATE AU CLAIR DE LUNE - Moonlight sonata
Ukraine Arrests Father-Son Duo In Lockbit Cybercrime Bust
A kiss to build a dream on
US Offers $15 Million For Info On Leaders Of Cybercrime Group Lockbit
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Russia Claims UK Cultural Agency Spied for Ukraine
Mean Blues
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
La Chansonnette
Alexei Navalny: UK sanctions Russian prison chiefs after activist's death
Pattaya Addicts
German economy is in 'troubled waters' - ministry
Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Dream a little dream of me
New video
Unchained Melody sung like you've NEVER heard!
Tucker Carlson says Boris Johnson wants "a million dollars, in Bitcoin or cash, from Tucker Carlson to talk about Ukraine.
Dave Brubeck - Take Five
Russia is rebuilding capacity to destabilize European countries, new UK report warns
Édith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (Sofie)
EU Commission wants anti-drone defenses at Brussels HQ
Rondo Alla Turca
Von der Leyen’s 2nd-term pitch: More military might, less climate talk
Kiss of fire
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Tom Jones - I´ll Never Fall In Love Again 1967, 1989, 2001
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Israel Cachao López - Guajira Clásica
UK court to hear Assange's final appeal against extradition to the US, where he faces charges related to his journalistic work—the publication of a classified video in 2010 that exposed US war crimes against humanity.
Edward Maya - Stereo Love (feat. Vika Jigulina) (Extended Mix)
About 50-60% kids either chose to be YouTuber or influencer
Strauss - Radetzky March - Karajan
A viral video of Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce lying on a Canberra footpath is celebrated by his media mates.
La vie en rose
European Countries React to Navalny's Death by Summoning Russian Diplomats
The Temptations - My Girl (Smokey Robinson Tribute) 2006 Kennedy Cent
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
Orlando Cachaito Lopez Redencion
English farmers to be offered ‘largest ever’ grant scheme amid food security concerns
Edith Piaf - NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN
Cameron government knew Post Office ditched Horizon IT investigation
RADETZKY MARCH-2008-Wien, New Year Concert
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Only you (And you alone)
EU Vows To Hold Putin "Accountable" After Meeting Alexei Navalny's Wife
Strangers In The Night
EU Launches Probe Into TikTok Over Child Protection Under Digital Content Law
Charles Aznavour - La Boheme
The EU Initiates Naval Mission to Defend Red Sea Trade Routes
Summer time
EU and UK Announce Joint Effort on Migration
Sting and Stevie Wonder - Fragile (from Sting's 60th birthday concert)
Brazil's Lula Likens Gaza Operation to Holocaust, Israel Says "Red Line" Crossed
Aux Champs Elysees
Ministers Confirm Proposal to Prohibit Mobile Phone Usage in English Schools
Stand By Me - Ben E. King (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Microsoft-backed OpenAI valued at $80bn after company completes deal
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) – Avalon Jazz Band
‘Alexei would want to tell Russia not to give up fighting’
She
Rwandan Footballer's Dismissal Sparks Concerns Over UK Asylum Plan
Nathalie Song by Enzo Petrachi Stjepan Hauser Cello
Whisky Challenges China's Baijiu Market During New Year Celebrations
Shape of My Heart - Sting (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Avdiivka - Symbol Of Ukrainian Resistance Now In Control Of Russian Troops
Radiohead - Creep
Putin Critic Alexei Navalny's "Killers" Refusing To Hand Over Body, Say Allies
Quizás,Quizás,Quizás - Andrea Bocelli - Jennifer Lopez
"Historic Step": Zelensky Signs Security Pact With Germany
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Multi-Couples
"Historic Step": Zelensky Signs Security Pact With Germany
Pentatonix Havana
20 Tech Giants Sign Effort To Fight AI Election Interference Across Globe
Paula Cole - Autumn Leaves
Joe Biden Accuses Putin of Causing Navalny's Death
Oscar Benton Bensonhurst Blues
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
OH NANANA vs ABUSADAMENTE
Tucker Carlson grocery shopping in Russia. This is so interesting.
Nina Simone - ”I Put A Spell On You”. Vezi aici cum cântă Jeremy Ragsd
Julian Assange's Wife Warns of His Death if Extradited to US
NIGHTWISH - The Phantom Of The Opera
‘A lot higher than we expected’: Russian arms production worries Europe’s war planners
Motorshow 2016 Tanjay Negros Oriental
Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption Rights
Monica Bellucci - Ti Amo
Hungarian Foreign Minister: Europeans will lose Europe, the Union's policy must change drastically
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Milena The Voice France 2018
In Britain Homeowners are receiving CPO’s (Compulsory Purchase Orders) so their homes can be redistributed to migrants
Michael Buble (Help Me Make It Through The Night) feat Loren Allred
Memories Canon In D - Maroon 5 (Boyce Avenue piano acoustic cover)
Matteo Simoni - Marina
Maroon 5 - One More Night
Maroon 5 - Memories
Mark Knopfler - Brothers In Arms (Berlin 2007 Live)
Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Romeo And Juliet (Real Live Roadrunni
Marina, Marina - The LUCKY DUCKIES intimist live concert at Guimarães
Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On Mauranne The Voice France 2016
Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - Joslin - Henri Mancini, Nino Rota
LoLa & Hauser - Love Story
Linkin Park Jay-Z - Numb Encore (Live 8 2005)
Hallelujah Mennel Ibtissem, The Voice France Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen - Dance Me to the End of Love
Leonard Cohen & Natasha Rostova - Dance me to the end of love
La casa de papel - Bella Ciao
La Camisa Negra
L'italiano (Toto Cutugno) - The Gypsy Queens
Juanes - La Camisa Negra
Jonathan and Charlotte - Britain's Got Talent 2012 Live Semi Final - U
John Powell - Assassin's Tango
Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On (LIVE in Dortmund)
Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart 2002 Live
Joe Cocker - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Jay Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind LIVE
Jason Mraz - Im Yours (live)
Jarrod Radnich - Bohemian Rhapsody - Virtuosic Piano Solo
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
James Blunt - You're Beautiful & Bonfire Heart (Live at The Nobel Peac)
If You Go Away - Helen Merrill & Stan Getz (Tribute to Virna Lisi)
I'LL BE MISSING YOU
I Say a Little Prayer
Hotel California ( Eagles ) 1994 Live
Historia de un amor - Luz Casal. Vezi interpretarea Biancăi Sumanariu
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Spot
Heart - Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin - Kennedy Center Honors
HAVANA by Camila Cabello Zumba Pre Cooldown TML Crew Kramer Pastra
HAUSER and Señorita - I Will Always Love You
HAUSER - Waka Waka
HAUSER - Sway
HAUSER - Lambada
HAUSER - Historia de un Amor
HAUSER - Despacito
Great Pretender
Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice Samba to 'Volare' - Strictly Come
Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues
GIPSY KINGS VOLARE Penelope Cruz
Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
French Latino - Historia de un Amor
For A Few Dollars More The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live)
Flashdance • What a Feeling • Irene Cara
Filip Rudan - “Someone You Loved” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sez
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Enya - Only Time
Enrique Iglesias - Bailando (English Version) ft. Sean Paul
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos
Elena Yerevan Historia de un amor
Ed Sheeran - Shape of You (Official Music Video)
Ed Sheeran - Perfect Symphony [with Andrea Bocelli]
Ed Sheeran - Perfect (Official Music Video)
Easy On Me - Adele (Boyce Avenue 90’s style piano acoustic cover) on S
ERA - Ameno
ELENA YEREVAN- Cancion Del Mariachi-IN STUDIO-2017 DPR
Dust In The Wind - Kansas (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix
Deep Purple - Child In Time - Live (1970)
David Foster When A Man Loves A WomanIt's A Mans World (SealMichael Bo
Dance me to the end of Love ( Pi-Air Design )
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]
Conquest Of Paradise (Vangelis), played on Böhm Emporio organ
Cielito Lindo
Chico & The Gypsies - Bamboleo
Canción Del Mariachi - Antonio Banderas, Los Lobos • Desperado
Camila Cabello - Havana (Audio) ft. Young Thug
Camila Cabello - Havana ( cover by J.Fla )
California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas José Feliciano (Boyce Ave
Buster Benton - Money Is The Name of The Game
Hallelujah Pentatonix
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (Official Music Video)
Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door Emilia The Voice Kids France
Besame Mucho - Cesaria Evora
Ben E. King - Stand by Me Sax Cover Alexandra Ilieva Thomann
Bella Ciao
Bella Ciao - INSTRUMENTAL
Beautiful in White x Canon in D (Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)
Bad Romance - Vintage 1920's Gatsby Style Lady Gaga Cover ft. Ariana Savalas & Sarah Reich(1)
BELLA CIAO 2020 - KARAOKE ITALIANO
BAMBOLEO - Gipsy Kings • Antonio Banderas, Katya Virshilas
BAILANDO (original)
Awesome Ukrainian yodeler - SOFIA SHKIDCHENKO (with English subtitles)
Avicii - The Nights
Atom - The Great Gig in the Sky
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Official Ly
Antonio Banderas - Cancion del Mariachi (Desperado)
André Rieu - Zorba's Dance (Sirtaki)
André Rieu - Can't Help Falling In Love
André Rieu & Mirusia - Ave Maria
Andrew Reyes Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down The Voice 2020 (
Andreas Kümmert Whiter Shade Of Pale The Voice of Germany 2013 Showd
And I Love You So
All About That Bass - Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
Alan Walker - Faded (Piano Cover)
Ain't No Sunshine -- Bill Withers (cover by Canen 12 y.o.)
African music
Adriana Vidović - “Creep” Audicija 4 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
Adriana Vidović - “Believer” Nokaut 3 The Voice Hrvatska Sezona 3
A Fistful of Dollars - The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Tuva
4 Beautiful Soundtracks Relaxing Piano [10min]
2CELLOS - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
2CELLOS - Smooth Criminal (Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo)
2CELLOS - Smells Like Teen Spirit [Live at Sydney Opera House]
2CELLOS - Despacito [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
13 Year Old Girl Playing Il Silenzio (The Silence) - André Rieu
094.All About That Bass
00 - SADNESS PART 1
(Ghost) Riders In the Sky (American Outlaws Live at Nassau Coliseum, 1
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams (Boyce Avenue ft. Conn
What a wonderful world
Moon river
×