Elena Milashina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elena Milashina
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| Елена Милашина | |
Milashina in 2013
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| Born | 1977 (age 47–48) |
| Occupation | Journalist, human rights defender, writer, investigative journalist |
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Elena Valeryevna Milashina (born 1977) is a brave Russian investigative journalist. This means she works to uncover important stories that some people may want to keep hidden. She writes for a newspaper called Novaya Gazeta.
Elena is also a human rights defender, which means she works to protect the basic rights and freedoms of people. Because of her courageous work, she has faced serious dangers and has been attacked several times.
Contents
Becoming a Journalist
Elena Milashina was born in 1977. As a teenager, she participated in an exchange program that allowed her to study in the United States. This experience helped her later when she attended Moscow State University.
In 1997, while still a student, she started working for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper. One of her teachers there was Anna Politkovskaya, another famous journalist. In 2001, Elena graduated with a degree in journalism.
Her Work as a Journalist
Elena focuses on very difficult and important topics. She writes about government corruption and problems with human rights, especially in the North Caucasus region of Russia, including Chechnya.
Important Investigations
Elena has reported on many major events. She continued the work of her colleague Anna Politkovskaya after Politkovskaya was killed in 2006. Elena investigated what happened to Anna and also looked into other serious events, such as:
- The Beslan school siege in 2004.
- The 2008 conflict in South Ossetia.
- The disappearance of human rights worker Natalya Estemirova in 2009.
She also reported on the unfair treatment of certain groups of people in Chechnya, standing up for their rights.
Dangers and Attacks
Because her work uncovers difficult truths, Elena has often been threatened and attacked.
- 2012 Attack: In April 2012, Elena and a friend were attacked by unknown people in Moscow.
- 2020 Attack: In February 2020, she was in the city of Grozny, Chechnya, to report on a court case. She and a lawyer were attacked in their hotel.
- 2022 Threats: In February 2022, the threats against her became so serious that she had to leave Russia for her own safety.
- 2023 Attack: In July 2023, Elena returned to Chechnya to cover another trial. She and a lawyer, Alexander Nemov, were attacked by an armed group. The attackers hurt them badly, shaved Elena's head, and covered her with green dye. They told her to stop writing articles. Elena suffered serious injuries, including a brain injury and broken hands, and had to be flown to a hospital in Moscow.
Awards and Honors
For her bravery and important work, Elena Milashina has received many awards. These awards recognize her courage in telling stories that need to be heard.
Some of her awards include:
- Golden Pen of Russia (2001): For her articles about the Russian submarine Kursk.
- Alison Des Forges Award (2009): From Human Rights Watch for her work defending human rights.
- International Women of Courage Award (2013): An award from the United States for women who show great courage.
- Free Media Awards (2016): An award that honors brave journalists in Eastern Europe.
See also
In Spanish: Elena Milashina para niños
