Russia labels Nobel winner Dmitry Muratov a ‘foreign agent’
- The designation – reminiscent of the Soviet-era term ‘enemies of the people’ – is commonly used by Russian authorities to stifle critics
- Moscow has stepped up efforts to stamp out dissent since launching its Ukraine invasion, with most high-profile opponents in exile or behind bars
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Russia on Friday added respected journalist and Nobel Prize co-recipient Dmitry Muratov to its list of foreign agents, a label authorities commonly used to stifle critics.
Russia’s ministry of justice said Muratov, the editor of Russia’s top independent publication Novaya Gazeta, “used foreign platforms to disseminate opinions aimed at forming a negative attitude towards the foreign and domestic policy of the Russian Federation”.
“What is there to comment on? For comments, contact the Ministry of Justice,” said the Novaya Gazeta website.
It added the foreign agents list now included 674 “worthy” people and organisations.
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Philippine journalist Maria Ressa wins 2021 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Russia’s Dmitry Muratov
The label, which is reminiscent of the term “enemies of the people” of the Soviet era, requires individuals or groups to disclose sources of funding.
It also compels them to mark all publications – including social media posts – with a tag. This put foreign agents and people sharing their content at risk of heavy fines.
The ministry also accused Muratov of creating and distributing content from other foreign agents.
Moscow has stepped up efforts to stamp out dissent since launching the assault on Ukraine, with most high-profile opponents in exile or behind bars.
While many independent journalists are working from abroad, Muratov was recently seen in Russia. He is part of the legal team defending his friend Oleg Orlov, co-chair of Russia’s human rights organisation Memorial.
Orlov is on trial over lone pickets against the assault in Ukraine and over an op-ed in French publication Mediapart titled “They wanted fascism, they got it”.
In 2021, Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the Philippines’ Maria Ressa for their respective fights for freedom of expression.
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Co-founded by former Soviet leader and another Nobel Peace laureate Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993, Novaya Gazeta is one of the few media outlets left in Russia voicing criticism of President Vladimir Putin.
Since 2000, Novaya Gazeta has seen six of its journalists and contributors killed, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot dead in Moscow on Putin’s birthday.
Among the other Russian nationals placed on the foreign agents list on Friday were another journalist who wrote articles favourable to Ukraine, a comedian opposed to the war and a historian from Chechnya, where Russia crushed insurgents in two post-Soviet wars.
Some prominent dissenters in Russia have been imprisoned, including anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny.
Additional reporting by Reuters
