In Russia journalists brave censorship, criticize Putin’s war in Ukraine

On Monday, as Russia celebrated Victory Day, two Russian journalists appeared to have posted nearly 30 articles on a pro-Kremlin website lenta.ru, criticizing the nation’s president, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the government’s suppression of criticism. 

The articles were taken down almost immediately, as per CNN who reviewed them, and reported that some were about 77 years of the Red Army’s defeat of Nazi Germany, while others criticized Putin for using Victory Day, observed on May 9 every year, to justify the onslaught on Ukraine. 

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Egor Polyakov and Alexandra Miroshnikova, the two reporters, made numerous claims in their articles, saying Russian authorities were “lying to relatives” of those killed when Ukrainian forces sunk Moscow’s battleship Moskva in the Black Sea. They also accused Putin of launching one of the “bloodiest wars of the 21st century”. 

Polyakov and Miroshnikova said on lenta.ru, “Putin and his circle are doomed to face a tribunal after the end of the war”, adding, “Putin and his associates won’t be able to justify themselves or flee after losing this war.” 

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The two are business editors on the pro-Kremlin site and appeared to sign off, saying “We’re looking for work, lawyers and probably, political asylum!” They further sounded a call to action, saying “Don’t be afraid, don’t be quiet. Resist! You are not one, you are many! The future is yours!… Peace to Ukraine!” 

The recent outburst is reminiscent of Russian TV editor Marina Ovsyannikova barging into a live telecast and holding up an anti-war sign back in March. After fears of her going missing, Ovsyannikova was ultimately arrested and paid a fine of 30,000 rubles. 

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Russian journalists have braved the new draconian law passed by Putin’s government, which even includes jail time for those spreading what Kremlin deems to be ‘fake news‘ about the Russian military.