Ukrainian filmmaker and former political prisoner Oleg Sentsov: “Congratulations to Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, probably the last Russian independent publication, on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize!”
Political scientist and journalist Kirill Rogov: “I would be very happy if the prize was awarded to Alexei Navalny, who to a large extent looks like the politician of the year in the world today. But I would not oversimplify the interpretation of the logic of the Nobel Committee. The Russian dictatorship by no means belongs to the group of the most repressive, and the severity of the political conflict in the country, in general, also looks rather moderate. The point is not that Navalny is not Walesa, but that something comparable to Solidarity is not behind him.
And the opposition between Navalny and Muratov seems to me absolutely wrong. I would like to remind you not even of the role that Novaya Gazeta plays in Russian journalism, but of the role it plays in the fight against violence in the North Caucasus and in Russian colonies and prisons. It seems to me that these aspects were the main ones for the committee. As well as the impressive list of newspaper journalists killed for their work. This is a slightly different award, a little about something different than expected in Russia, but nevertheless no less important.
This premium is in a sense a compromise. I do not know anything about whether there were some behind-the-scenes considerations behind this compromise, but I see the content and logic in this compromise. I regret that the prize was not given to Navalny, but I am sincerely glad that it was given to Muratov. And this is one and the same war. “
Journalist and Human Rights Defender Zoya Svetova: “The prize that is given to Muratov is given to Novaya Gazeta and in the person of Novaya Gazeta it is given to all free and independent journalism, which is being destroyed in our country today. Therefore, it seems to me that it is very important that the West noticed this, that the West understood this and that by awarding this prize, they make it clear to Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin, and the Russian authorities in general, that they know what is happening in Russia and that journalism is being destroyed in Russia and journalism is becoming a prohibited profession. And they disagree with that.
Probably, it seems to us that it would be fair if the Nobel Peace Prize were given to Navalny or Svetlana Tikhanovskaya or Maria Kolesnikova. Both Navalny and Kolesnikova are political prisoners. Kirill Rogov wrote very well about this, he wrote that it is likely in the West that they believe that in Russia there is still not such a situation when it is necessary to give the Nobel Peace Prize to a political prisoner. I, unfortunately, have to admit that such times are gradually arriving, and it is quite possible that in the near future Alexei Navalny will also be awarded the Peace Prize if he continues to sit in a Russian prison and will receive an even longer sentence than he has now received. I think this is the logic of this jury. Not momentary. Because giving a prize to Navalny, it would be so momentary, here and now. And to give a prize to Dmitry Muratov is a kind of symbolic prize ”.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov: “We can congratulate Dmitry Muratov, he consistently works according to his ideals, he is committed to his ideals. He is talented, he is brave. Of course, this is a high mark. We congratulate him. “
Director General of MIA “Russia Today”, TV propagandist Dmitry Kiselev: “The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most controversial nominations on the Nobel Committee. Such decisions devalue the premium itself, it is difficult to be guided by it already ”.
Journalist, executive director of the Sitting Rus movement Olga Romanova: “If I were a Nobel committee, I would give this year a prize to Navalny. Because a spoon is good for dinner, an egg is dear for Christ’s day, and you need to reward now, and not later, when the idiotic incident with Amnesty International is forgotten. If I were a Nobel committee, I would have awarded Muratov a long time ago. But it is good now too. He has done a lot, is doing and will do even more now, having this status, including for Navalny.
The Nobel Peace Prize is always about politics. Zassali give to Navalny – it’s bad. Dali Muratov is good. And it’s also cool that now there are two Nobel Peace Prize winners in the same edition – Gorbachev (Supervisory Board of Novaya) and Muratov.
They will not strangle the “New”. In any case, it will be more difficult – for Kadyrov, and for the NOD members, and for any evil spirits. And Navalny should be free. Like all political prisoners. “
Journalist of “Novaya Gazeta” Elena Milashina: “Wow! Then I read this: “Muratov does not support the current government, but at the same time he and his publication were not subjected to harsh repression (although many of Novaya’s journalists were killed, let’s say, under suspicious circumstances) …” Strong, however … I would like to suggest to the author and others: how poorly on a business trip to Chechnya? There are just a couple of important lawsuits that will start soon. Well, at the same time, we will ask, for example, Magomed Daudov, what is “harsh repression” in his understanding?
Chief editor of the website Carnegie.ru Alexander Baunov: “Many underestimate how toxic the nationalist theme is for modern Western institutions. It seems to be when it was, but Western interlocutors, years later, continue to ask about Navalny’s nationalism. In a sense, you can visit a nationalist once. This does not interfere with support, sympathy, numerous awards, but for an award with a humanistic message that claims to set a global coordinate system, it can become an insurmountable obstacle. In addition, Navalny is an active, struggling and rather young politician, it is difficult to predict what tools he will use, and the Nobel Committee has already noted several hasty decisions. In which case, there is still a chance to reward him. The Nobel Prize is generally not to encourage young people, but to perpetuate merit. In this respect, Novaya Gazeta is an established institution equal to itself, with its own credo, stable mode of action and style tested in different conditions, and the anniversary of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya reminded of this institution. “
Writer and journalist Mikhail Zygar: “Muratov is a Nobel laureate” – for me this is a formula for happiness. This one sentence makes me happy. Everyone who knows Dima knows that he is an incredibly kind, simple, open person. He is the best symbol of Russian quality journalism. Today, all honest journalists in Russia (and in the world too) may well say “I / WE are Dmitry Muratov,” because together with Dima, of course, they are also awarded. Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed 15 years ago. The entire editorial office of Novaya Gazeta. All newly minted foreign agents who continue to work as journalists at all costs. The editorial offices of Dozhd, Meduza, Important Stories, Mediazones (you know, they all perform these same functions of foreign agents) – and they all received the Nobel Prize today. Guys, everyone with a prize. Dima deserved and deserved everything. “
Head of the International Human Rights Group “Agora” Pavel Chikov: “Today journalism in Russia is the most persecuted profession by the authorities. It was she who received the Nobel, Russian journalism destroyed by the authorities, murdered with impunity, blocked, declared undesirable, stigmatized by the stigma of foreign agents, crushed by criminal cases, ruined by fines and raider seizures. This is the line of direct confrontation today. We will always defend journalists and freedom of speech with all our might. “
Economist, Professor at the University of Chicago Konstantin Sonin: “For the first time I believe that the decision on the Nobel Peace Prize is not just stupid, but corrupt. I don’t know, but I believe. Peace prizes have been strange before – and when they were given to former terrorists and failed politicians, and I don’t understand who, and someone deserving, but not for that. The same President Obama would have earned an award for overcoming racial barriers, really revolutionary, but he was given, for some reason, for “contribution to the cause of peace”, this is the first year of his presidency after a short Senate career.
If they gave the prize to Novaya Gazeta as an organization, it would still be understandable. I wouldn’t give it, but I get it. But Dmitry Muratov is a completely unsuitable figure – the glory of Novaya Gazeta is associated with other people of a different scale. (Full disclosure: I have a small personal account with the editor of the newspaper, who published materials in it with my last name with a small letter. However, then he kind of apologized, saying that it was imposed by the owner of the newspaper Lebedev. Well, I pretended to understand. )
If someone came up with this plan – to give a prize to a loyal person from Russia, so that God forbid they would not give the prize to Navalny or some of the political prisoners or political emigrants – this is a devilishly sophisticated blow to our country, present and future. If someone orchestrated it as a ‘compromise’ – well, like, let’s take care of these Russians, but let’s not tease the geese – well, that will be dumber than the last one. “
Politician, leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky: “Not many people know about the merits of Dmitry Muratov in our country. But now they learn about them – and not only in Russia, but all over the world. The editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Muratov became the third recipient of this award in our country after Sakharov and Gorbachev. And this is very true.
It was Muratov who preserved Novaya as the last bastion of honest journalism in Russia. It is Muratov who has been saving journalists from death threats for many years. It is Muratov, literally with his own hands, constantly risking his life, defending freedom of speech in our country.
Congratulations to Dmitry Andreevich on a well-deserved award!
PS And, of course, it is very pleasant that the Nobel laureate of 2021 Dmitry Muratov is a longtime member of the Yabloko party.
Political scientist Fedor Krasheninnikov: “Freedom reigns in Russia. The ruthless investigator and editor of the opposition newspaper itself lives quietly in Moscow. Rumors about the persecution of independent media and critics of the government are greatly exaggerated. Russia’s main problem is that the Moscow intelligentsia votes for the Stalinists, as Mr. Muratov told us in a recent column. Such conclusions follow from the decision of the Nobel Committee.
PS And most importantly, no one from Russia will receive any Nobel Prize in the foreseeable future. Great success of the Kremlin, I must say. “
Editor-in-chief of the radio station “Echo of Moscow” Alexey Venediktov: “A separate post for assholes. Dmitry Muratov never supported electronic voting, fiercely swore with me because of it, Novaya Gazeta fiercely criticized the DEG. But for him, injustice is always a target for a blow. This he did always and in everything.
I hope that Alexei Navalny will congratulate Dmitry Muratov on the Nobel Peace Prize. And this will gag the assholes who yelp at the editor-in-chief of the excellent Novaya Gazeta.