Critic Barabash Removed from Home Arrest and Transferred to Paris

Yekaterina Barabash, Troublesome Film Critic, Rids Herself of House Arrest in a Daring Escape

The escaped film critic Yekaterina Barabash has left Russia after a nail-biting escape, her son declared to "Cautiously, News!" The escape was aided by the organization "Reporters Without Borders," as reported. This covert operation mirrors the escapade of journalist Marina Ovsyannikova.

Barabash was nabbed in Moscow on February 25, 2025. On March 27, the Moscow Investigative Committee announced the conclusion of their investigation against her. An expert exam scrutinized her social media posts, verifying that they contained spurious information (misinformation) about the actions of the Russian Armed Forces. On March 31, it was disclosed that a criminal charge sheet had been filled against Barabash.

Yekaterina Barabash, born to acclaimed literary scholar Yuri Barabash, was born in Kharkiv but moved to Moscow with her family at a young age when her father became the first deputy chief editor of "Literary Newspaper." Despite calling Russia home, Barabash has consistently voiced her connections to Ukraine, considering both countries her birthland.

Barabash spent close to two months under house arrest, being later declared a fugitive and detained in absentia on April 21.

Similarly, renowned singer Monetochka had requested to terminate her individual entrepreneur status in Russia.

A Quick Scoop on Yekaterina Barabash's Previous Arrest

Known for her work with sites like Republic and Radio France Internationale’s Russian service, the 63-year-old Barabash was a vocal critic of the Russian military, particularly its actions in Ukraine[4][5]. Fleeing house arrest mirrors the actions of other high-profile dissenters, hinting at the ongoing suppression of dissent in Russia since the Ukraine conflict unfolded in 2022[5].

Although publicly labeled as a troublemaker, there has been no definitive data linking Barabash to the "foreign agent" tag. Nevertheless, her case is representative of the broader clampdown on dissenters questioning the government in Russia[4][5]. For more updates concerning Barabash's exodus, it's essential to keep a keen eye on the evolving situation.

Yuri Barabash, the father of the escaped film critic Yekaterina Barabash, was an acclaimed literary scholar and the first deputy chief editor of "Literary Newspaper."
A year prior to her arrest in 2025, Yekaterina Barabash was known for her vocal criticism of the Russian military, particularly their actions in Ukraine.
Despite facing house arrest in 2025 for allegedly spreading misinformation, Yekaterina Barabash has consistently expressed her ties to both Russia and Ukraine, considering both countries her birthland.
In 2025, after a criminal charge sheet was filled against her, Yekaterina Barabash, prominent in general-news and crime-and-justice sectors of politics, escaped from Russia, joining the ranks of other high-profile dissenters who have fled the country.