Irina Slavina (journalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irina Slavina
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Slavina in 2019
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| Born |
Irina Vyacheslavovna Murakhtaeva Kolebanova
8 January 1973 |
| Died | 2 October 2020 (aged 47) |
| Cause of death | ... by self-immolation |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Children | 1 |
Irina Vyacheslavovna Murakhtaeva (Russian: Ирина Вячеславовна Мурахтаева; born Kolebanova; 8 January 1973 – 2 October 2020), known as Irina Slavina, was a journalist from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. She was also a public figure and the main editor of an online newspaper called Koza Press.
On 2 October 2020, she died in front of the main police building in Nizhny Novgorod.
About Irina Slavina
Irina Vyacheslavovna Kolebanova was born in Gorky (which is now Nizhny Novgorod), in the Soviet Union, on 8 January 1973.
She studied at Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University and finished in 1997. For eight years, from 1995 to 2003, she taught Russian language and literature in schools in Nizhny Novgorod. She also studied journalism and became a journalist in 2003.
For her work as a journalist, Irina Murakhtaeva used the name Irina Slavina.
From 2003 to 2011, she worked for a newspaper called Nizhegorodskaya Pravda. This was the official newspaper for the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region.
In 2015, she started her own independent online newspaper called “Koza Press”. She was its main editor. This newspaper reported on social and political news and problems in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Public Activities
Irina Slavina was known for her public activities and for speaking out.
In March 2019, a court in Nizhny Novgorod fined her for organizing a public event. Later that year, she was fined again for a post she made online. This post was seen as disrespectful to authorities.
Some people believed these fines were meant to stop her independent newspaper from reporting freely.
In June 2020, she faced another issue for reporting on a public health matter. She had shared information about a local official who had a contagious illness. Law enforcement officials said she spread false information.
She was also fined in July 2020 for sharing information about a public forum called "Free People."
Political Involvement
Irina Slavina was also involved in politics.
In June 2016, she was a leader on the list for the Yabloko party. This party ran in elections for the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
In 2016, she ran as a candidate for the Yabloko party in the elections for the State Duma (which is like the Russian parliament). She finished in 8th place in her district.
Final Events
On 2 October 2020, Irina Slavina died in front of the main police building in Nizhny Novgorod.
The day before, police searched her home. They were looking for materials related to a criminal case against another person. The police took away her electronic devices, including her laptop, her daughter's laptop, and her husband's phone. Slavina said she was left "without the means of production" for her work.
After her death, a gathering was held in her memory in the city. Her death also received attention from news organizations both in Russia and other countries. Some observers noted that independent journalists in Russia often face pressure. Soon after the news of her death, her website was closed.
Local Russian officials stated that her death was not connected to the police search. They said she was only a witness in the case, not a suspect.
Some public figures in Russia commented on her death. Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader, said that a criminal case was made up against Slavina for political reasons. Another Kremlin critic, Ilya Yashin, said that such actions by the government can be very hard on people.
Personal Life
Irina Slavina was married and had one daughter.
