Dmitry Muratov

Dmitry Muratov (born 30 October 1961 in Kuybyshev) is the former editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. He edited the newspaper between 1995 and 2017.[1] The Novaya Gazeta has been called "the only truly critical newspaper with national influence in Russia today" by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The journal is known for its thorough reporting on sensitive topics such as governmental corruption and human rights violations.[2]

Dmitry Muratov at a ceremony

In 2007, he won an International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The award is given to journalists who show courage in defending press freedom in the face of attacks, threats or imprisonment.[3]

On January 18, 2010, he received the Legion of Honor order, France's highest decoration, in the degree of Chevalier (Knight). On May 29, 2010 he received for the Novaya Gazeta the Four Freedoms Award for Freedom of Speech in Middelburg, the Netherlands.

Background and early life

Dmitry Muratov was born on October 30, 1961 in Kuibyshev, which is now identified as Samara. He studied Faculty of Philology at Lomonosov Moscow State University for five years, where he quickly realized his love for journalism. While in college he networked with local newspapers and held a part-time journalism job.

After attending State University, he served in the Red Army from 1983 to 1985. Muratov often mentioned the essence of his activities in the military, calling himself the expert responsible for sorting equipment.

In 1987, Muratov began working as a correspondent for Volzhsky Komsomolets newspaper. Muratov was given the opportunity to really express and prove himself at this publication. His superiors were so impressed that by the end of his first year he was appointed to Head of the Komsomolskaya Pravda Youth Department, and later got promoted to editor of news articles.[4]

Personal life

During Muratov’s time as editor of the Novaya Gazette, he found himself at the center of various scandals. The Novaya Gazeta is known as one of the “only truly critical newspapers with national influence in Russia today” by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Muratov often reported on sensitive topics including human rights violations, high-level government corruption, and abuse of power. His political beliefs, such as supporting freedom of press, has led to various scandals and conflict with fellow journalists and the government.[5]

Career

Muratov started his career with a popular Russian newspaper called Komsomolskaya Pravda and left in 1988. In 1993, Muratov and 50+ other colleagues from Komsomolskaya Pravda left to start their own paper, an opposition paper titled Novaya Gazeta. Their goal was to create a publication that was “an honest, independent, and rich"[6] source for the citizens of Russia. The newspaper’s mission is to conduct in-depth investigations into human rights issues, corruption and abuse of power. Novaya Gazeta’s newsroom started out with two computers, two rooms, one printer and no salary for the employees. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev generously donated some of his Nobel Peace Prize money to pay for salaries and computers for the paper.

The newspaper famously broke the story of the International Industrial Bank money laundering scandal on November 26, 2001. Gazeta is also infamous for reporting a prank that accused former Prime Minister Sergey Kiriyenko of embezzlement to buy real estate in the United States. He established plans to arm his journalists with weapons training and possible firearms after a series of attacks on journalists. The Gazeta has lost numerous journalists to suspicious murders.[7] Muratov stepped down from the paper in 2017 crediting the exhausting nature of running the paper.[8] Muratov spent over 20 years as editor-in-chief. His absence was brief as he resumed his position in 2019 after the paper’s staff voted for his return.[9]

Muratov is a decorated journalist that has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to his craft. He received the International Press Freedom Award in 2007 from the Committee to Protect Journalists for his bravery in defending the freedom of the press in the face of danger.[3] On January 29, 2010, he was acknowledged by the French government for his devotion to the freedom of journalists. He was given the Legion of Honor order; France’s highest civil honor decoration.[10] Muratov traveled to the Netherlands in May of 2010 to receive the Four Freedoms Award for the Novaya Gazeta.[11] In 2016, Muratov accepted the Golden Pen of Freedom Award from the World Association of News Publishers.

Political views

Muratov is a member of the Yabloko political party.[12] Yabloko is a liberal political party that was founded in 1993 by former Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Grigory Yavlinsky. The party is represented by one senator, Vladimir Lukin. Nikolay Rybakov is the current leader who has been in office since December 2019. Some political platforms of the party include a social market economy, fair competition in politics and equal opportunity in the employment sector.

Prominent life events

In 1993, Muratov helped to create Novaya Gazeta, where he was named Deputy Press Editor.[13] The paper got an early boost from former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who donated part of his 1990 Nobel Peace Prize winnings to the paper. In 1995, he became the head of the editorial board, a position he held until 2017, when he said he would not run for reelection. In 2019, Muratov ran for and was re-elected to the head of the editorial board of the Novaya Gazeta.[13]

During his time at the Novaya Gazeta, six of its journalists have been killed.[5] In 2000, Igor Domnikov was murdered in a Moscow apartment building. In 2001, Victor Popkov died after being wounded in the crossfire of a gunfight in Chechnya.[5] In 2003, Yury Shchekochikhin died after investigating a corruption scandal where high-ranking Russian officials were involved.[5] Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated in her apartment block in 2006 after spending her career covering Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus.[5] In 2009, both Anastasia Baburova and Natalia Estemirova were shot and killed.

In 2007, he won an International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, an award given to journalists who face threats, attacks or imprisonment. In 2010 he received the Legions of Honor order, France’s highest decoration. Later that year, he received the Four Freedoms for Freedoms of Speech for the Novaya Gazeta in Middelburg, Holland. In 2016, Muratov was awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom award by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers for his work with the Novaya Gazeta and its role in creating a free press in Russia.[5]

Legacy

Muratov helped to create “the only truly critical newspaper with national influence in Russia today,” according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.[5] His work has helped to put pressure on the Russian government and has given voices to minority parties in the country. His paper has also been influential on shedding light of the turbulent situations in Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus.

References

1. "Главным редактором "Новой газеты" стал Сергей Кожеуров". Novaya Gazeta. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
2. http://cpj.org/awards/2007/muratov.php
3. "CPJ To Honor Five Journalists". Committee to Protect Journalists. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
4. "Dmitry Muratov: biografija, novinarske aktivnosti".
5. "Biography of 2016 Golden Pen of Freedom Laureate Dmitry Muratov".
6. "Dmitry Muratov, Editor of Novaya Gazeta, Russia".
7. "Russian opposition newspaper will arm its journalists".
8. "After 22 Years, Novaya Gazeta Editor Dmitry Muratov Steps Down".
9. "Russian media veteran Dmitry Muratov returns to 'Novaya Gazeta' editor-in-chief post".
10. "Longtime Novaya Gazeta Chief Editor To Step Down".
11. "THE FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELTFOUR FREEDOMS AWARDS2010" (PDF).
12. http://eng.yabloko.ru/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
13. "Главным редактором «Новой газеты» вновь избрали Дмитрия Муратова".