Dmitry Muratov. Photo: Novaya Gazeta
A Moscow court refused to take former Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov off the register of “foreign agents” on Tuesday, Novaya Gazeta has reported.
Muratov sent a written statement to the court in which he argued that he should not be deemed a “foreign agent” as he did not receive foreign funding, is not subject to foreign influence, and only holds Russian citizenship. The statement, which was only partially read aloud by the judge, was published by Novaya Gazeta in full.
Muratov said: “I will be brief because I already know the decision in this case is a foregone conclusion. You will continue to label me as a ‘foreign agent’. You will go into a backroom to deliberate but I already know. All those in favour of peace, all those against the ‘special military operation’ receive their sentences, and no one can appeal them,” Muratov added, using the Kremlin’s preferred term for the war in Ukraine.
“Of course, I don’t support the ‘special military operation’ — I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why it started or what Russia considers a victory,” the statement read.
According to Novaya Gazeta, the judge argued that Muratov can be labelled a “foreign agent” as he is against the “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“Of course, I don’t support the ‘special military operation’ — I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why it started or what Russia considers a victory,” the statement read.
Muratov said that Russian authorities used the “foreign agent” legislation arbitrarily and blamed the judicial system for the death of “tens of thousands of people” by banning those who support peace from standing in elections.
Muratov questioned the judicial system’s logic stating: “‘I am against murder, and am therefore a ‘foreign agent’? But those who support murder are patriots?”
Muratov was labelled a “foreign agent” in September 2023 for “using foreign social media platforms to spread opinions aimed at forming a negative attitude towards Russia’s foreign and domestic policy”.
Russia’s “foreign agent” label was introduced in 2012, and can be applied to anyone deemed subject to “foreign influence” but has been used by the Kremlin primarily as a means to suppress opposition. Once labelled a “foreign agent”, individuals face severe restrictions in several areas of public life. In May, “foreign agents” were banned from standing in local elections.