Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitri Muratov warns that “mighty figures” in Russia are preparing minds for war. “In fact, in the minds of some politicians, a war between Russia and Ukraine is no longer ruled out.”
Muratov spoke at the peace award ceremony in Oslo. He shares the prize with Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. According to the Nobel Committee, both have campaigned for freedom of expression and freedom of the press in their countries. They are under pressure in the Philippines and Russia.
According to Muratov, politicians who want to prevent bloodshed are seen as weaklings in Russia. Threatening war would be patriotic.
Russia has tens of thousands of soldiers along the border with Ukraine. Ukraine, the US and their allies fear a Russian invasion. Russian President Putin says he is not after that, but yesterday compared the situation in eastern Ukraine to genocide. Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists have been at war there for years.
Novaja Gazeta
Muratov is editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. He said journalism in Russia is going through a dark period as hundreds of journalists and human rights activists are labeled as ‘foreign agents’.
In Russia, that equates to enemies of the people, Muratov said. People who get this stamp will be arrested and behind bars put or worse. Muratov dedicated his award to all investigative journalists and colleagues from his newspaper who were murdered for their work.
Maria Ressa
Maria Ressa argued at the awards ceremony for fighting hate speech in social media. “We need to change the hatred and violence, that poisonous ooze that flows through our information streams. American Internet companies make more profit when they spread hatred and unleash the worst in us.”
Both journalists pointed out that the world needs independent journalism as a counterbalance to authoritarian regimes. “Yes, we growl and bite. Yes, we have sharp teeth and hold on,” said Muratov. “But that is a condition for progress. We are the antidote to tyranny.”
Last journalist to receive Peace Prize
Ressa and Muratov are the first journalists to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in nearly 90 years. The last was German Carl von Ossietzky in 1935. He revealed that Germany was secretly rearming itself.
Ressa recalled that Von Ossietzky never got his award. He was imprisoned in a concentration camp and died in a hospital in 1938, partly as a result of assault.
By giving the prize to journalists today, the Nobel Committee is showing that it is once again up or down for democracies, Ressa said.
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