From Slate Magazine · Sam Adams · · 1m 20s
My Undesirable Friends: Exile
Russian journalists flee Putin's war as their documentary reveals the cost of truth.
In brief
Russian journalists flee Putin's war as their documentary reveals the cost of truth. Russian journalists who covered Putin's invasion of Ukraine now live in exile, finding ordinary heroism in their struggle to preserve democracy. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
My Undesirable Friends Part II
Julia Loktev’s documentary follows Russian journalists fleeing Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
TV Rain’s exile
The independent Russian news network TV Rain has relocated to Latvia after Putin’s invasion.
The pronoun dilemma
Latvian officials worry that Russian broadcasts using 'our soldiers' might refer to Latvian troops.
Anna Nemzer’s guilt
TV Rain anchor Anna Nemzer says, 'Of course, we are guilty. Of course, we failed and let this happen.'
“Of course, we are guilty. Of course, we failed and let this happen.”
Ksenia Mironova’s struggle
Journalist Ksenia Mironova’s fiancé was arrested and sentenced to 22 years in prison for treason.
Elena Kostyuchenko’s journey
Elena Kostyuchenko survived a suspected poisoning and wrote a bestselling book in exile.
The cost of truth
Journalists face mundane struggles like running out of fresh underwear while watching their country disintegrate.
Exile’s warning
Elena Kostyuchenko warns, 'Stay alarmed. Be hysterical if you need to. It’s very easy to lose your country.'
“Stay alarmed. Be hysterical if you need to. It’s very easy to lose your country.”
The documentary’s message
My Undesirable Friends: Exile shows how ordinary heroism can sustain democracy during crisis.
What matters most
Russian journalists who covered Putin's invasion of Ukraine now live in exile, finding ordinary heroism in their struggle to preserve democracy.
