A Conversation with Dmitry Muratov

Dmitry Muratov is a Russian journalist, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and is a vocal advocate for an independent press and is known for investigating abuses of power. In 2021, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, cited for his “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.” After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Muratov auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize for $103.5 million. Proceedings from the sale of his Nobel Prize went to UNICEF, 70% of that to children who are refugees from Ukraine, and 30% to children from other poor countries.

Muratov co-founded the pro-democracy newspaper Novaya Gazeta in 1993 with several other journalists. He was the newspaper’s editor-in-chief from 1995 to 2017, and again assumed the position in 2019. The newspaper is known for its reporting on governmental corruption and human rights violations. In the 2000’s, six of Novaya Gazeta’s journalists were murdered, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in 2006 while covering human rights abuses in Chechnya. The honorarium is used to pay his journalists and staff at the Novaya Gazeta since they shut them down in Russia. However, the content is available if accessed from outside of Russia.

Muratov was the recipient of various honors, including the International Press Freedom Award (2007) from the Committee to Protect Journalists. Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, the Norwegian Nobel Committee noted the difficult conditions facing journalists worldwide and that “freedom of expression…is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”