Dmitry Muratov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dmitry Muratov
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| Дмитрий Муратов | |
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Muratov in 2018
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Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov
29 October 1961 |
| Citizenship | Russia |
| Education | Kuybyshev State University (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1987–present |
| Employer | Novaya Gazeta |
| Political party | Yabloko |
| Awards | Order of Friendship, Order of Honour, CPJ International Press Freedom Awards, Legion of Honour, Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize |
Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov (Russian: Дмитрий Андреевич Муратов; born 29 October 1961) is a Russian journalist and TV presenter. He used to be the main editor of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. In 2021, he won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize with Maria Ressa. They received the award for working hard to protect freedom of expression. This means people can share their ideas and opinions freely. This freedom is very important for a fair society and lasting peace.
Muratov helped start the newspaper Novaya Gazeta in 1993. He worked with other journalists who believed in democracy. He was the newspaper's main editor for many years. The newspaper is known for writing about important topics. These include government actions, people's rights, and fair elections. Muratov strongly supported a free and independent press. He published articles that looked closely at the government. His newspaper became known as a truly important and critical voice in Russia. In 2022, the newspaper had to stop printing and publishing online for a while. This happened after they received warnings from the Russian media watchdog. In 2023, Russian authorities called Muratov a "foreign agent".
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dmitry Muratov was born on October 29, 1961. His family was Russian. He was born in a city called Kuibyshev, which is now known as Samara. He studied for five years at Samara State University. There, he became very interested in journalism. While in college, he worked part-time at local newspapers. After university, from 1983 to 1985, he served in the Soviet Army.
Starting His Journalism Career
In 1987, Muratov began working as a reporter. He wrote for a newspaper called Volzhsky Komsomolets. His bosses were very impressed with his work. By the end of his first year, he was put in charge of a youth department. Later, he became an editor for news articles. Muratov left this newspaper in 1992.
Founding Novaya Gazeta
In 1993, Muratov and over 50 other journalists started their own newspaper. They called it Novaya Gazeta. Their goal was to create an honest and independent newspaper. They wanted it to be a rich source of information for Russian citizens. The newspaper's main purpose was to investigate important issues. These included human rights, corruption, and misuse of power.
When they started, the newspaper had very little. They had only two computers, two rooms, and one printer. The employees did not even get a salary at first. Mikhail Gorbachev, a former Soviet President, helped them. He donated some of his Nobel Peace Prize money. This money was used to pay salaries and buy computers. Muratov helped create Novaya Gazeta. He was named the Deputy Press Editor.
In 1994 and 1995, Muratov worked as a reporter. He reported from the war zone during the First Chechen War. In 1995, he became the head of the newspaper's editorial board. He held this important job for more than 20 years. He stepped down in 2017, saying the work was very tiring. But in 2019, the staff voted for him to return. So, he became the editor again.
Investigative Reporting and Challenges
Muratov often wrote about difficult topics. These included human rights problems and government corruption. He also reported on the misuse of power. His strong belief in a free press sometimes caused problems. He faced conflicts with other journalists and the government.
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In 2016, Novaya Gazeta helped publish the Panama Papers. These were secret documents from a law firm in Panama. They showed how some companies and people hid their money.
His newspaper also brought attention to difficult situations. These included events in Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus. For example, in 2017, Novaya Gazeta reported on alleged persecutions. They said that some men were killed, and many others were held and threatened. The Chechen government denied these reports. The newspaper also published a report by Elena Milashina. It listed 27 Chechens who were allegedly killed in 2017. The newspaper asked the Russian government to investigate these claims.
Dangers Faced by Journalists
During Muratov's time at Novaya Gazeta, six of its journalists were killed.
- In 2000, Igor Domnikov was murdered.
- In 2001, Victor Popkov died after being hurt in a gunfight.
- In 2003, Yury Shchekochikhin became ill and died after investigating a corruption case.
- Anna Politkovskaya was killed in 2006. She had spent her career reporting on Chechnya.
- In 2009, Anastasia Baburova was shot and killed. Natalia Estemirova was taken and murdered.
Novaya Gazeta and the Ukraine War
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Muratov published his newspaper in both Russian and Ukrainian. He said his newspaper would not follow new Russian media rules. These rules would only allow government statements to be reported. On March 4, 2022, a new law was signed in Russia. It said people could go to prison for up to 15 years. This was for publishing "knowingly false information" about the Russian armed forces. This led some media outlets in Russia to stop reporting on Ukraine. Others even closed down.
On March 28, 2022, Novaya Gazeta stopped its print activities. This happened after a second warning from the media watchdog. To avoid censorship, a foreign version of the paper was started. It was called Novaya Gazeta Europa and launched from Riga in April 2022.
In December 2022, Muratov said that Russia could destroy Ukraine's buildings. But he believed Russia would "never be able to conquer it." In March 2023, he said that normal relations between Russia and Ukraine would not happen. He felt Ukraine would not be able to accept the tragedy. He also warned that Russian state media was making people think that nuclear war was not a bad thing.
In March 2023, Oleg Orlov, a human rights activist, was held by authorities. He was accused of "discrediting the armed forces." Muratov went with him to the hearing. Muratov said that Orlov was being tried for following the Russian Constitution. He argued that the constitution guarantees freedom of expression. In May 2023, Muratov also supported two playwrights. He called the case against them political persecution.
Attack on a Train
On April 7, 2022, Muratov was attacked. An unknown person threw red paint mixed with acetone on him. This happened while he was on a train from Moscow to Samara. It was believed to be an act of support for Russian troops. U.S. intelligence agencies later said Russian intelligence services organized the attack.
Awards and Honours
Muratov has received many awards for his work as a journalist. In 2007, he received the CPJ International Press Freedom Award. This was for his courage in defending press freedom. On January 29, 2010, the French government honored him. He received the Legion of Honour order, which is France’s highest civilian award. In May 2010, Muratov traveled to the Netherlands. He received the Four Freedoms Award for Novaya Gazeta. In 2016, he accepted the Golden Pen of Freedom Award.
Nobel Peace Prize
Muratov was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. He shared it with Maria Ressa from the Philippines. They won for their efforts to protect freedom of expression. The Nobel Committee praised Novaya Gazeta's critical articles. These articles covered topics like corruption, police violence, and unfair arrests. They also wrote about election fraud and the use of Russian military forces.
Some people thought the Nobel Prize Committee should have given the award to Alexei Navalny. But Muratov is a member of a different political party. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on winning the prize. Muratov himself said he would have given the prize to Alexei Navalny if he could choose.
During his acceptance speech, Muratov gave a warning. Russia was building up its military near the Russia–Ukraine border. He said that "a war between Russia and Ukraine is not something impossible any longer."
In an interview, Muratov said his Nobel Prize belonged to all the journalists of Novaya Gazeta who were killed. He said the prize is not given after someone has died. So, it was given to him, but it was really for those who lost their lives. He mentioned Yury Shchekochikhin, Igor Domnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Anastasia Baburova, Stanislav Markelov, and Natalya Estemirova.
On March 22, 2022, Muratov decided to sell his Nobel Peace Prize medal. He wanted to donate the money to UNICEF. This money would help refugees from Ukraine. The medal was sold for US$103.5 million. This was the highest price ever paid for a Nobel medal.
In 2024, a documentary was made. It showed how journalists from Novaya Gazeta and other media outlets dealt with government control. The journalists in the film had to close their media and leave Russia for their safety. Muratov's Novaya Gazeta opened offices in Latvia, Germany, and Paris.
Documentaries About Muratov
- 2023, The Price of Truth, by Patrick Forbes
- 2024, Of Caravan and the Dogs
Images for kids
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Muratov after having received the Four Freedoms Award
See also
In Spanish: Dmitri Murátov para niños
