Dmitry Muratov

Dmitry Muratov
Muratov in 2018
Dmitry Muratov
Born	Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov 29 10, 1961
Birthplace	Kuybyshev, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Samara, Russia)
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Journalist, newspaper editor, television presenter
Known for	Co-founder and former editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta; 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Education	Kuybyshev State University (BA)
Awards	Nobel Peace Prize (2021), Four Freedoms Award (2010)
Website	[https://www.nobelprize.org/laureate/1006 Official site]

Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov (Template:Lang-ru; born 29 October 1961) is a Russian journalist, television presenter, and the former editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, one of the few independent newspapers in post-Soviet Russia. In 2021, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Filipino journalist Maria Ressa "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." Muratov co-founded Novaya Gazeta in 1993 and served as its editor-in-chief from 1995 to 2017, and again from 2019 until the newspaper was forced to suspend operations in 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Under his leadership, the newspaper became known for its unflinching coverage of governmental corruption, human rights abuses, electoral fraud, and the wars in Chechnya — reporting that came at an enormous human cost, with six of its journalists and contributors murdered over the years, including the investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya. In 2022, Muratov auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize medal for a record-breaking $103.5 million to raise money for children displaced by the war in Ukraine. In September 2023, Russian authorities designated Muratov a "foreign agent." He has continued to speak publicly on issues of press freedom, civilian protection during wartime, and the plight of political prisoners.

Early Life

Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov was born on 29 October 1961 in Kuybyshev (now Samara), in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union. The city of Kuybyshev, situated on the Volga River, was a major industrial centre in the Soviet era. Details about Muratov's family background and childhood remain limited in publicly available sources, though his formative years in a Soviet provincial city during the Brezhnev era shaped a generation of journalists who would later play critical roles during the glasnost period and the tumultuous post-Soviet transition.

Muratov grew up during a period when the Soviet press functioned as an instrument of state ideology, with virtually no tradition of independent journalism. His early interest in writing and public affairs led him to pursue studies in journalism and philology. He attended Kuybyshev State University (now Samara State University), where he earned a bachelor's degree. His university education coincided with the early rumblings of reform in the Soviet Union, and by 1987 he had begun his professional career in journalism, entering the field during the era of glasnost under Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev — a period that, for the first time, opened limited space for critical reporting in the Soviet press.

Muratov's early journalism career took root in the changing political landscape of the late Soviet Union. Before co-founding Novaya Gazeta, he worked at other publications, gaining experience in investigative and political journalism during a period of rapid social transformation. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 created both opportunities and dangers for independent media, setting the stage for the founding of what would become one of Russia's most significant independent newspapers.

Education

Muratov studied at Kuybyshev State University (now Samara State University), where he received his bachelor's degree. The university, one of the major institutions of higher education in the Volga region, provided Muratov with a foundation in the humanities and social sciences. He completed his studies before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, entering professional journalism in 1987 during the glasnost era.

Career

Founding of Novaya Gazeta

In 1993, Muratov co-founded Novaya Gazeta alongside several other journalists committed to creating an independent publication in the newly democratic Russia. The newspaper was established during a volatile period in Russian history — the early post-Soviet years were marked by economic upheaval, political instability, and the rapid consolidation of wealth among a new class of oligarchs. According to some accounts, the founding of the newspaper was supported in part by a financial contribution from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who used part of his Nobel Peace Prize money to help launch the publication.

Novaya Gazeta was conceived as a platform for independent, investigative journalism in a media landscape that was increasingly being captured by political and business interests. From its inception, the newspaper distinguished itself by tackling subjects that other Russian media outlets avoided, including government corruption, abuses of power, and the conflict in Chechnya. The Committee to Protect Journalists later described Novaya Gazeta as "the only truly critical newspaper with national influence in Russia today."

Editor-in-Chief: First Tenure (1995–2017)

Muratov assumed the position of editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta in 1995 and held the role for over two decades, guiding the newspaper through some of the most perilous periods for Russian independent media. Under his editorial leadership, Novaya Gazeta became known for its investigations into the Second Chechen War, the activities of the Russian security services, and the growing authoritarianism of the Putin administration.

One of the most significant aspects of Muratov's editorial tenure was his support for the work of Anna Politkovskaya, the investigative journalist whose reporting on human rights abuses in Chechnya drew international attention and fierce opposition from Russian authorities. Politkovskaya's articles, published under Muratov's editorship, documented extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced disappearances in Chechnya, directly scrutinising the policies of the Putin administration. Politkovskaya was murdered on 7 October 2006, in the entrance hall of her apartment building in Moscow — one of six journalists and contributors to Novaya Gazeta killed during Muratov's tenure as editor-in-chief.

The human toll on the newspaper's staff was staggering. In addition to Politkovskaya, other Novaya Gazeta journalists and contributors who were killed included Igor Domnikov, Yuri Shchekochikhin, and Paul Klebnikov, among others. Despite these losses and persistent threats, Muratov continued to publish the newspaper and refused to moderate its investigative coverage. In October 2017, the newspaper reported that it would arm its journalists with non-lethal weapons for self-defence, reflecting the ongoing danger faced by its staff.

In April 2017, Novaya Gazeta published a groundbreaking report revealing that Chechen police had rounded up over 100 men suspected of being gay, detaining them in secret facilities where they were subjected to torture and abuse. The report drew international condemnation and brought global attention to the persecution of LGBT individuals in Chechnya.

In November 2017, Muratov stepped down as editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, with Sergei Kozheurov succeeding him in the role.

Return as Editor-in-Chief (2019–2022)

In November 2019, Muratov returned to the position of editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, resuming leadership of the newspaper amid a continued deterioration of press freedom in Russia. The newspaper continued its investigative tradition, publishing reports on sensitive subjects including the activities of Yevgeny Prigozhin, sometimes referred to in media as "Putin's chef." In 2018, Novaya Gazeta published claims that Prigozhin was involved in attacks and killings, reporting that drew significant attention and threats.

The threats against the newspaper escalated. In October 2018, Novaya Gazeta staff received a macabre package containing six red carnations and a severed ram's head — a pointed death threat interpreted as referencing the six journalists and staff members who had been killed.

In 2019, Novaya Gazeta published an investigation into hazing and abuse in the Russian military, known as "dedovshchina," documenting conditions at military barracks and the systemic mistreatment of conscripts.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the newspaper faced intensifying pressure from Russian state authorities. On 28 March 2022, Novaya Gazeta announced that it would suspend its online and print activities after receiving a second warning from Roskomnadzor, Russia's federal media regulatory agency. The warnings were related to the newspaper's coverage of the war, which authorities deemed to violate newly enacted laws prohibiting the dissemination of "false information" about the Russian military.

Nobel Peace Prize and Auction

On 8 October 2021, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Dmitry Muratov and Maria Ressa of the Philippines would share the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. The committee cited their "efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." Muratov was the first Russian citizen to receive the Nobel Peace Prize since Andrei Sakharov in 1975 and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.

In June 2022, Muratov auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize medal, with the proceeds going to UNICEF to support children displaced by the war in Ukraine. The auction, conducted by Heritage Auctions, raised a record-breaking $103.5 million, making it the most expensive Nobel Prize medal ever sold at auction. The sale far exceeded initial estimates and drew global media attention, underscoring both the symbolic power of the prize and the international concern over the humanitarian consequences of the war.

Post-Suspension Activities and Foreign Agent Designation

Following the suspension of Novaya Gazeta in Russia, some of the newspaper's journalists established Novaya Gazeta Europe, a separate publication based outside of Russia, which continued to report on Russian and international affairs.

On 1 September 2023, Russian authorities officially designated Muratov as a "foreign agent" under Russia's foreign agent law, a label that in the Russian legal context imposes onerous reporting requirements and carries a significant social stigma, effectively marking individuals as acting on behalf of foreign interests.

Despite the designation, Muratov has continued to speak publicly on matters of press freedom, the war in Ukraine, and the treatment of prisoners. In May 2025, he called on both Moscow and Kyiv to carry out an unprecedented exchange of civilian prisoners, making the appeal in a video address directed at the presidents of both countries.

In August 2025, in an interview with Swiss media outlet Swissinfo, Muratov discussed freedom of speech and what he described as the collapse of fact-checking, stating, "I'm not afraid to live without hope."

In November 2025, in an interview with El País, Muratov commented on international politics, saying that "Putin has made a mockery of European politicians."

In December 2025, as a U.S. envoy headed to Moscow to negotiate over a peace plan for Ukraine, Muratov urged that the lives of prisoners were at stake and should be a priority in any negotiations.

In February 2026, Muratov called on both Moscow and Kyiv to end strikes on civilians ahead of Geneva peace talks.

In September 2025, Muratov travelled to Kirkenes, Norway, to deliver a talk on censorship, an event covered by The Barents Observer, which described him as a leading advocate of media freedom and independence in Russia since the 1990s.

Personal Life

Muratov has maintained a relatively private personal life despite his public prominence. He has been a member of the Yabloko party, a liberal democratic political party in Russia. Publicly available information about his family life remains limited, consistent with the security concerns that have accompanied his journalistic career.

Throughout his career, Muratov has faced repeated threats and intimidation. The 2018 incident in which Novaya Gazeta offices received a package containing six red carnations and a severed ram's head — symbolically referencing the six murdered journalists — served as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those associated with the newspaper. The murder of Anna Politkovskaya in 2006 and the deaths of other colleagues have been defining events in Muratov's professional and personal life.

Following the suspension of Novaya Gazeta in Russia and his designation as a foreign agent, Muratov has continued to appear at international events and conduct interviews with international media outlets, travelling to locations including Norway and Switzerland.

Recognition

Muratov's most prominent recognition is the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, which he shared with Maria Ressa. The Norwegian Nobel Committee specifically cited their work in safeguarding freedom of expression as essential to democracy and lasting peace.

In 2010, Muratov was a recipient of the Four Freedoms Award, presented by the Roosevelt Stichting (Roosevelt Foundation) in the Netherlands. The award honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the ideals championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The auction of his Nobel Peace Prize medal in 2022 for $103.5 million was itself a notable event, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal at auction. The proceeds were directed to UNICEF's efforts to assist Ukrainian children displaced by the Russian invasion.

Muratov and Novaya Gazeta have been recognised by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which described the newspaper as "the only truly critical newspaper with national influence in Russia today." The newspaper's reporting on the persecution of gay men in Chechnya in 2017 drew widespread international recognition and prompted diplomatic protests and investigations by human rights organisations.

Legacy

Dmitry Muratov's legacy is inextricably linked to the history of independent journalism in post-Soviet Russia. Through Novaya Gazeta, he helped sustain a tradition of investigative, adversarial journalism under conditions that made such work extraordinarily dangerous. The newspaper's reporting on the Chechen wars, government corruption, abuses by security forces, and the persecution of minorities constituted a significant public record during a period when most Russian media outlets came under state control or self-censored.

The cost of maintaining this independence has been measured in human lives. The murders of six Novaya Gazeta journalists and contributors, including Anna Politkovskaya, represent one of the highest tolls suffered by any single news organisation in peacetime. Muratov's decision to continue publishing despite these losses has been cited by press freedom organisations as emblematic of the risks faced by independent media in authoritarian contexts.

The forced suspension of Novaya Gazeta in March 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, marked the effective end of the last major independent newspaper with national reach operating inside Russia. The establishment of Novaya Gazeta Europe by some of the newspaper's journalists represented a continuation of its mission, albeit from exile — a pattern repeated across multiple Russian independent media organisations forced to relocate after 2022.

Muratov's decision to auction his Nobel Peace Prize medal for the benefit of Ukrainian children displaced by the war added a distinctive chapter to the history of the Nobel Prize itself, and drew renewed international attention to both the humanitarian consequences of the conflict and the symbolic value of the award. His continued public advocacy — for civilian prisoner exchanges, for an end to strikes on civilians, and for press freedom — has maintained his presence in international discourse on human rights and the rule of law, even as his formal role as an editor inside Russia has been curtailed by state action.