“I want journalists to die old”: editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta made a speech at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov spoke today at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The full version of his speech is published on the website of the publication.

In his speech, Muratov quoted academician Andrei Sakharov, pointing out that today “The world has stopped loving democracy. The world has become disillusioned with the ruling elites. The world is drawn to dictatorship. “

“There was an illusion that progress can be achieved by technology and violence, and not by respect for human rights and freedoms,” added Muratov. – In our country (and not only in our country) the idea is popular: those politicians who avoid blood are weak people. But to threaten the world with war is the duty of true patriots. The authorities are actively selling the idea of ​​war. “

According to the editor-in-chief of Novaya, today’s ideologists are promoting “the idea of ​​death for the Motherland, not life for the Motherland.”

“Let’s not let this TV of theirs fool ourselves again. Hybrid hostilities, the tragic, ugly and criminal story with the Boeing MN-17 destroyed relations between Russia and Ukraine, and I don’t know if the next generations will be able to restore them … Moreover, in the sick heads of geopoliticians, the war between Russia and Ukraine has ceased to seem impossible ” – said Muratov.

Recalling how in 1988, at a meeting of the Politburo, one of the Soviet ministers demanded that the troops be left in Afghanistan, to which Mikhail Gorbachev answered harshly: “Stop your hawk screaming!” funeral? “

“The people for the state or the state for the people? This is the main conflict today, ”he added, touching upon the topic of torture in Russia, the initiation of criminal cases on political grounds, the threat of liquidation of the Memorial society (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia – approx. ed.).

In particular, Muratov initiated the creation of an international tribunal against torture, the task of which is to collect data on the use of torture in different parts of the world and states.

“To establish the executioners and their masters involved in such crimes. I hope, of course, first of all, for investigative journalists from all over the world. Torture should be recognized as a grave crime against a person, ”Muratov said.

In his speech, he highlighted the serious risks faced by journalists doing their jobs.

“Journalism in Russia is going through dark times now. Over the past few months, more than a hundred journalists, media, human rights defenders and NGOs have received the status of “foreign agents”. In Russia they are “enemies of the people”. Many of our colleagues were unemployed. Someone is forced to leave the country. A person is deprived of their usual life for an unknown time. Maybe forever … This happened in our history, – said Muratov. – Now, instead of the “philosophical steamer”, the “journalistic plane” is leaving. This is a metaphor, of course, but dozens of representatives of our profession are leaving Russia. But someone was also deprived of such an opportunity. “

“This award is for all real journalism. This award was given to my dead colleagues from Novaya Gazeta – Igor Domnikov, Yuri Shchekochikhin, Anna Politkovskaya, Anastasia Baburova, and Stas Markelov, Natasha Estemirova. This award is also given to living colleagues, a community that fulfills a professional duty, ”Muratov continued. – Yes, we growl and bite. We have fangs and grip. But we are the condition of movement. We are an antidote to tyranny. “

At the end of his speech, Muratov called for a minute of silence to be honored by fellow reporters who gave their lives for this profession, as well as to support those who are being persecuted.

Recall that in October, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award of the prize to two journalists for “their efforts to defend freedom of speech, which is a prerequisite for democracy and lasting peace.” They were journalists from the Philippines and from Russia Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov.

The editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta became the third winner of this prize in the history of Russia after Andrei Sakharov and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Earlier, he called on all countries, including Russia and the United States, to repeal all laws on foreign agents. The call was made on December 8 in a video message to the participants of the Summit for Democracy organized by the US authorities. Muratov recalled that in Russia many media outlets and journalists are already recognized as foreign agents and “this is read as ‘enemies of the people’.”

Let us remind you that on October 15 the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation entered into its register the foreign agents of the founder of IA “Rosbalt” – joint-stock company (JSC) “RS-Balt”.

The award ceremony took place today. Muratov and Resse received them from the hands of the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen. They were given a medal, a diploma and a document on which the amount of the cash prize was 10 million Swedish kronor (about $ 1.2 million).