Dmitri Muratov

Biography

Dmitri Andreyevich Muratov was born on October 30, 1961, in Kuibyshev (now Samara), Russia. He started his journalism career in 1987 at Komsomolskaya Pravda, working as a correspondent and editor. In 1993, Muratov co-founded Novaya Gazeta with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and businessman Alexander Lebedev, creating one of Russia's most influential independent newspapers.

As editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta since it began, Muratov has managed investigative reports on corruption, human rights abuses, and government wrongdoings in Russia and nearby countries. The newspaper has covered issues from military misconduct in Chechnya to political killings and state corruption. Under his leadership, the paper has kept its editorial independence despite increasing pressure from authorities.

Muratov's dedication to press freedom has come with significant personal and professional risks. Six of his colleagues at Novaya Gazeta have been killed since 2000, including Anna Politkovskaya in 2006 and Natasha Estemirova in 2009. The newspaper has faced numerous legal battles, threats, and attacks but has continued its investigative work under Muratov's leadership.

In 2021, Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the award with Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored his efforts to protect freedom of expression in Russia, where independent media is increasingly restricted. Muratov said he would donate his prize money to charity, later auctioning his Nobel medal for $103.5 million to help Ukrainian refugee children. In March 2022, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Novaya Gazeta stopped operations due to warnings from Russian authorities, but Muratov continues to support press freedom worldwide.