Journalist forced into exile in France by RSF due to coverage of Ukraine conflict
Rewritten Article:
In a daring escape, Russian journalist and film critic Ekaterina Barabach, 64, found sanctuary in France after facing harsh repercussions for her outspoken stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) orchestrated her covert operation, announcing her safe arrival at a press conference on May 5.
"I can't thank you all enough for the support," beamed an elated Barabach at RSF's Paris headquarters. Sadly, she had to leave her 96-year-old mother behind as part of her harrowing escape from Russia. "It's a massive relief and absolute joy to have her secure here in Paris with us," said RSF's director-general, Thibaut Bruttin.
Russian authorities demanded Barabach's whereabouts after labeling her a wanted fugitive on April 21. This move came after she went missing from her home while under house arrest as part of an investigation into disseminating "false information" about the Russian army. This house arrest had been ordered by a Moscow court following her arrest at the end of February.
Born in Kharkiv under the USSR (now in Ukraine), Barabach has been a vocal critic of Russia's offensive against its Ukrainian neighbor since February 2022. "So, you...brutes, you've bombed [Ukraine], flattened entire cities, murdered over a hundred children, slaughtered peaceful people, kept Mariupol under siege, deprived millions of people of a normal life, forced them to flee?" she wrote in a Facebook post.
RSF stepped in once more in October 2022, helping another Russian journalist, Marina Ovsiannikova, escape condemnation for displaying an anti-war sign on state television.
Read more about the ongoing Ukraine war on our website, featuring a report by AFP – "Ukraine war: Russian journalist who held up sign against conflict during TV broadcast sentenced to fine and released."
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- Ekaterina Barabach, a Russian journalist who criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was smuggled to France by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) after facing repercussions in Moscow.
- Barabach, in a press conference at RSF's Paris headquarters, expressed her gratitude for the support that enabled her escape from Russia, where she had to leave her 96-year-old mother behind.
- Russian authorities demanded Barabach's whereabouts after labeling her a wanted fugitive, following her disappearance from home after being under house arrest on charges of disseminating false information about the Russian army.
- RSF had previously helped another Russian journalist, Marina Ovsiannikova, escape condemnation for displaying an anti-war sign on state television, highlighting their continued efforts in politics, war-and-conflicts, and general news.
