US Edition‘Hiding for weeks’: Russian reporter critical of Ukraine war smuggled to France
- Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash escaped house arrest in Moscow last month and resurfaced in Paris after a clandestine journey facilitated by Reporters Without Borders.
- She escaped to avoid up to ten years in prison after being arrested for Facebook posts made between 2022 and 2023 that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Barabash's escape entailed slipping past electronic surveillance, covering more than 1,700 miles through secret routes, and remaining in hiding for a fortnight before reaching France on the day she was born, April 26.
- RSF called her escape one of their most dangerous missions since the harsh media restrictions were imposed in March 2022. Barabash sharply criticized the absence of freedoms in Russia, stating that the country is dominated solely by conflict and that genuine journalism and culture have effectively disappeared.
- Her arrival in France underscores the increasing displacement of Russian journalists due to severe media repression, with dozens currently jailed and independent journalism virtually eradicated within Russia.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Threatened to prison in Russia, journalist Ekaterina Barabash tells of her exfiltration in France
Former Russian-language RFI correspondent in Moscow, Ekaterina Barabash risked ten years in prison in her country for posting anti-war publications in Ukraine on her Facebook wall. On Monday, 5 May, the film critic recounted her exfiltration from Reporters Without Borders' premises in Paris.
The Daring Escape of Ekaterina Barabash: From Russian House Arrest to Freedom in France
Ekaterina Barabash, a Russian journalist, escaped from house arrest in Moscow to Paris after facing a 10-year sentence for criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Supported by Reporters Without Borders, her daring escape highlights the suppression of press freedom in Russia. Now in France, she seeks asylum and aims to work with exiled Russian-language media.
Russian reporter facing jail says RSF smuggled her to France
Pro-Ukrainian journalist Ekaterina Barabash said she escaped house arrest in Russia and fled to Paris with the help of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). She was facing up to 10 years in prison for criticizing the army.
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