Since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, Russia has tightened the laws governing the media even more. Censorship is everywhere. This Thursday, June 9, two of the most popular Russian journalists decided to oppose it. Yegor Polyakov and his colleague broadcast articles about the unfolding war.
On Euronews, Yegor Polyakov, former head of the economic department of Lenta.ru, one of Russia’s most popular pro-government online media outlets, has spoken out about his act of resistance. Thursday, June 9, Yegor and one of his colleagues, against all the injunctions of their editorial staff and the government, disseminated information on the “war” in Ukraine when it is strictly forbidden to talk about war. The Kremlin does indeed use the term operation.
Articles critical of Putin lasted only 40 minutes. It was said that the content was not editorially approved. Thus, the readers knew that it was recommended to take screenshots.
They face up to 15 years in prison.
Yegor, interviewed by Euronews, explains: “A certain amount of information on what is really happening in Ukraine has been published. The articles touched on all the subjects that the Russian authorities wanted to keep silent. Information on what is happening in Ukraine, Russia and the rest of the world.”
The two journalists have since left Russia for “fear of reprisals”. With the toughening of the law on false news relating to the war and its dissemination, they can face up to 15 years in prison. But, for Yegor, his act freed his conscience and supported Russians who share his beliefs. For him, “the fact of not engaging is a way of condoning what is happening. No matter how hard you try to get out of the conflict, when it is unfolding before your eyes and you do not act, you are complicit , or at least you are a witness.”
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These Russians who do not keep silent
At the beginning of June, Alexander Nevzorov, a 63-year-old journalist and presenter, very influential in Russia, was given Ukrainian nationality as well as his wife. The journalist, followed by nearly 1.8 million people on Youtube, admitted on social networks that Russian troops deliberately hit the Mariupol maternity hospital.
He directly fled the country to escape prison sentences. Since May 6, Russian justice has issued an arrest order. He is accused of spreading false accusations about the national army. As a result, he is on the international wanted list of suspects. If he returns to Russia, he will automatically receive two months in prison.
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“They lie to you”
The most publicized protest is of course that of this Russian television journalist: Marina Ovsyannikova. She appeared on March 14 during the news on Channel One, the main state television channel. She held up a sign reading, “Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda. They’re lying to you.”
The sequence went around the world and the journalist received support from the international community. She was not imprisoned, the justice having simply sentenced him to pay a fine of 30,000 rubles, 250 euros. She has since been a correspondent in Ukraine and Russia for the German daily The world.
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