Anti-censorship group surreptitiously transports dissenting Russian journalist, vocal about Ukraine conflict, to France
A Russian journalist, who's been vocal about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, lands safely in France. This melodrama wouldn't be out of place in a thriller movie, but it's Ekaterina Barabash's real-life story. Her chilling escape—horse-drawn carriage rides, car chases, and secret hideaways—was made possible, thanks to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Barabash, a 64-year-old journalist, expressed gratitude for the support during a press conference at RSF headquarters in Paris. This covert operation, which took around two-and-a-half weeks, wasn't for the faint-hearted. She described it as "very difficult," hinting at the dangers she faced throughout her journey. But the details, she chooses to keep under wraps.
Barabash found herself in trouble with Russian authorities in February, accused of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces via her social media posts. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands have been charged with "discrediting" the army, now illegal.
Barabash has penned pieces for several news outlets, including the Russian service of FRANCE 24 sister station, Radio France Internationale. Born in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when it was part of the Soviet Union, she has been a vocal critic of Moscow's military offensive against her homeland.
On Facebook, back in March 2022, she described Russia's actions as bombing the country and razing entire cities to the ground. Days before her arrest, she wrote about the hate that fueled the conflict, stating, "Over the years, the hatred has stopped burning, stopped suffocating me - it has hardened, grown stronger, and burns with a steady flame that nothing can extinguish. I will die with it."
Shortly after the conflict began, Russia enacted a law criminalizing criticism of the army and its military operations in Ukraine. Human rights groups allege that authorities use this law as a pretext for an unprecedented crackdown on dissent.
This isn't a unique story. Former Russian state television journalist Marina Ovsyannikova also escaped Russia in 2022, following house arrest. RSF assisted in her clandestine exit from the country. These instances highlight the precarious situation faced by journalists critical of the Russian government's actions in Ukraine.
With international condemnation, NGO support, and media investigations, efforts are being made to protect these journalists. However, the challenges and risks they face remain significant. One chilling example is Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian investigative journalist who perished in Russian custody after being tortured in August 2023.
The struggle for freedom of speech and press continue in the face of these adversities, making these journalists the modern-day warriors fighting for truth amidst the chaos of war.
- Ekaterina Barabash, a Russian journalist who's been vocal about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, was smuggled out of the country by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) due to the harsh war-and-conflicts situation and escalating politics in Ukraine.
- Barabash described her covert operation as "very difficult," implying the dangers she faced during her secret journey from Ukraine to France, a journey that took around two-and-a-half weeks.
- Barabash, a vocal critic of Moscow's military offensive against her homeland, has penned pieces for various news outlets, including the Russian service of FRANCE 24 sister station, Radio France Internationale.
- The fate of journalists critical of the Russian government's actions in Ukraine remains precarious, as shown by the case of Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian investigative journalist who was tortured and perished in Russian custody in August 2023.
