The New York Times: Nobel Laureates Still Speak Their Minds in Russia
In 2022, hundreds of Russian journalists fled abroad, but Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov chose to stay. He is one of the few remaining voices who still speaks openly, using his platform as a moral conscience for society.
In 2021, Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "defending freedom of speech in Russia amid mounting pressure." This honor granted him some protection—but also made him a target.
In 2022, Muratov was attacked: someone splashed paint and acetone onto his face. He underwent four surgeries and now must use a magnifying glass to read. The following year, he was labeled a "foreign agent," effectively stripping him of his right to work in journalism.
Despite this, Muratov found a way to continue working: he publishes a magazine independently, with a circulation of no more than 999 copies, thus formally avoiding classification as a "media" entity, while also releasing an electronic version.
Muratov said, holding up a copy of the magazine, "This is our underground publication. It's not a printing press—it's a basement."
The magazine was originally named Gorby, in memory of Muratov’s friend and philanthropist Mikhail Gorbachev. After being banned, it was renamed Urbi et Orbi ("To the City and the World").
Muratov stated, "We work for peace, for Russia’s civil society. For us, the highest value is human life."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861405076578316/
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