Yekaterina Barbash, a 64-year-old Russian journalist, escaped Moscow last month where she had been under house arrest for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Facing a potential 10-year prison sentence under the Kremlin’s harsh anti-“fake news” laws, Barbash tore off her electronic ankle monitor and vanished. She embarked on a secret and grueling journey of over 2,800 kilometers, eventually arriving safely in Paris.

Barbash's story begins in March 2022, shortly after the start of the war. That month, Russia enacted new legislation criminalizing the spread of any information that contradicted the official narrative of the so-called “special military operation.” Thousands of citizens have been arrested since—including journalists.

At a press conference in Paris, Barbash described the climate in her home country: “There is no culture in Russia. No politics. Only war.” She added that journalism “cannot exist under a totalitarian regime.”

Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Barbash had used her social media platforms to speak out against the war. In one post she wrote:
“You bombed a country, destroyed entire cities, killed hundreds of children, shot civilians without cause, laid siege to Mariupol, and forced millions to flee abroad—For what? For friendship with Ukraine?”

After returning from the Berlin Film Festival in February, Barbash—also known for her work as a film critic—was arrested. She was accused of spreading “false information” about the Russian army and was labeled a “foreign agent.” Authorities placed her under house arrest in Moscow.

But in April, she vanished. She ripped off her electronic bracelet—"It’s somewhere in a Russian forest," she joked—and fled Moscow. Over the following two and a half weeks, she navigated a dangerous and secret route, staying hidden and relying on underground networks.

Her escape was aided by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), who described the operation as one of the most dangerous missions they’ve undertaken since Russia imposed its censorship laws. “At one point, we feared she might be dead,” said the organization during the press conference.

Barbash finally reached France on April 26—her 64th birthday. But freedom came at a price. She had to leave behind her 96-year-old mother in Russia, knowing they would likely never see each other again. “We both agreed that saying goodbye was better than prison,” she said. Barbash also revealed she considered suicide before deciding to flee. “I started looking for poison,” she admitted.

Barbash has a son and grandson in Kyiv but cannot visit them because she holds a Russian passport. Now in France, she plans to seek asylum. “I’m here now. I don’t think starting over will be easy. I’m not young.”

Her message to journalists still inside Russia is clear and uncompromising:
“If you want to be a journalist, you must live in exile. If you choose to stay in Russia as a journalist, then you are not a journalist. That’s all there is to it.”