From Foreign Policy · Anastasia Edel · · 1m 40s
Journalists Exiled from Russia
Exiled Russian journalists struggle to escape moral conflict while reporting on war.
In brief
Exiled Russian journalists struggle to escape moral conflict while reporting on war. Exiled Russian journalists continue reporting on Ukraine despite being citizens of a country that invaded it. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Exile Begins
Two women flee Russia after full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
Moral Dilemma
Journalists face conflict between loyalty to Russia and truth-telling about war.
Censorship Laws
Russia’s censorship laws risk journalists’ freedom with up to 15 years in prison.
Exile Journey
Journalists travel to Istanbul, Tbilisi, Prague, and Tel Aviv without new visas.
Cognitive Dissonance
Journalists explain themselves to hosts, Ukrainian sources, and Russian parents.
Elena Kostyuchenko
Elena Kostyuchenko, ex-Novaya Gazeta journalist, wrote about Russia’s fascism before four colleagues were murdered.
“All of us … spent many years, thoroughly, in great detail, in very good, well-written articles describing the coming of fascism in Russia.”
Alesya Marokhovskaya
Alesya Marokhovskaya films protests but avoids physical intervention.
“My job is to film. You don’t rush in to defend the person. You film them, because, well, that’s your job.”
Dozhd Exile
Dozhd journalists broadcast from Riga, Latvia, after losing Dutch broadcasting license.
Irina Dolinina
Irina Dolinina receives anonymous threats with passport numbers and flight details.
Poisoning Incident
Kostyuchenko recalls symptoms of poisoning in Munich in October 2022.
“Foul sweat, disorientation, nausea, swollen extremities.”
Morgue Scene
Kostyuchenko describes morgue scene in Mykolaiv with sisters killed by shelling.
“In the fridge, the bodies are stacked in layers. Two girls lie on top of each other. They’re sisters. The older one is 17, in the heap of bodies, all I can see is her hand, long thin fingers with a neat pink manicure. The younger is 3, she lies on top of her sister. … Her body is dotted with red shrapnel wounds.”
Yana Kuchina
Yana Kuchina, Kostyuchenko’s partner, has cerebral palsy and faces discrimination in Russia.
“My cerebral palsy is considered an intellectual inadequacy in the eyes of the authorities.”
Ksenia Mironova
Ksenia Mironova’s fiancé Ivan Safronov is held in Moscow prison on high treason charges.
“Ivan gets 22 years.”
Sonia Groysman
Sonia Groysman directs anonymous camera operators to report on Russian protests.
“Sasha Skochilenko, an artist sentenced to seven years for replacing price tags with anti-war messages.”
Alexey Navalny
Alexey Navalny, opposition leader, died in prison after Dozhd covered his health.
“He was a beacon for many. Now, all she sees is total blackness ahead.”
Ukrainian Perspective
Ukrainian journalists continue work despite destroyed homes and war.
“We don’t have the energy and time to worry and panic.”
The essence
Exiled Russian journalists continue reporting on Ukraine despite being citizens of a country that invaded it.
