He never had any illusions about the current Russian regime, but when Vladimir Putin started to get involved in high politics at the end of the 90s, it did not bode well, according to Martin Dorazín. “When the head of the state is a person originally from the KGB, it doesn’t turn out well, it’s just a snake that will do harm. But I couldn’t have imagined the scale,” says Czech Radio’s foreign correspondent in an interview for Spotlight.
Sample from an interview on the Spotlight show with Martin Dorazín | Video: Team Spotlight
Conditions in Russia tightened gradually, but according to Dorázin, the turning point occurred in December 2011, when thousands of people gathered in Moscow’s Bolotny Square to protest against the falsified results of the parliamentary elections. “Putin understood that a lot of people are against him and that they are very dangerous for his personal power,” explains the correspondent, who studied at university in Russia and now lives in Ukraine.
According to Dorazín, it was the manipulated parliamentary elections that were the impetus for broader social dissatisfaction, which began to organize. “There was a Navalny effect, which Putin feared like the devil, that’s why he apparently had him murdered,” speculates the journalist. “And at that moment, a lot of my friends understood that they shouldn’t stay in Russia, especially if they have families, and started leaving,” Dorázin describes the events of this year.
The reporter lost a lot of Russian friends with the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Some died, others ended up in prison for their dissenting views. “And then there are the friends I lost because they became enthusiastic supporters of this depraved regime,” describes Dorazín, who has lived in Odesa, Ukraine, since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
“They stand their ground, no debate with them was possible. The men are usually at least quiet, but the women want to fight for Russia and defend it with arguments that are unsustainable and sometimes even aggressive,” she describes her experiences in an interview with Zuzana Tvarůžková.
You can watch the entire interview in the video below or listen to it in your favorite podcast app. What were its main themes?
00:08-07:21 What instinct and degree of intuition does Martin Dorazín follow as a war correspondent and how did his friendship with pastor Oleg Tkachenko come about? What scenes will even an experienced reporter never get used to and to what extent are they touched by the tragic stories of Ukrainians?
07:21-13:30 Why is Dorazin still staying in Ukraine and where is the limit of the risk he is willing to take as a journalist? Did he have to learn not to perceive fear and how common a part of life in Odessa is the alarm signal? How important is this city for Russians and why is it important for Dorazin to live in Ukraine?
13:30-19:05 At what point did Dorazín want to stop reporting on the war and how is the war in Ukraine different? How big a challenge is it to instill confidence in the people of the affected regions, and what is involved in distributing humanitarian aid beyond the front line?
19:05-25:06 What keeps people in dangerous places and how essential is faith for Ukrainians in difficult situations? What pains were left in the liberated regions after the Russians and how quickly will Ukraine be able to recover?
25:06-31:04 According to Dorázin, what is the next goal of Russian President Putin and how have Dorázin’s relations with Russian friends changed? Does the reporter feel bitterness towards the Russian regime and when did he realize that the regime in Russia is starting to tighten up more?
31:04-34:44 What can the current development of the conflict in Ukraine mean, and are negotiations on stopping mutual attacks on the energy infrastructure of both states possible? What does Ukraine need most now and what do Ukrainian soldiers complain about the most?
Spotlight Aktuálně.cz – Martin Dorazín | Video: Team Spotlight
Interview Transcript: Time.news Spotlight with Martin Dorazín
Editor (E): Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re delighted to have Martin Dorazín with us, a seasoned foreign correspondent for Czech Radio, who has been on the front lines of the escalating tension in Ukraine. Martin, thank you for joining us!
Martin Dorazín (D): Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
E: You’ve been covering Russian politics since the late 90s when Vladimir Putin first emerged on the political scene. You mentioned in a recent interview that you never had illusions about him but weren’t prepared for the scale of what would follow. Can you elaborate on that?
D: Absolutely. In hindsight, understanding Putin’s KGB background gave early signs of the type of leader he would become. However, witnessing the extent of his actions over the years—especially regarding repression and the war in Ukraine—has been shocking. It’s like realizing you’re dealing with a snake that you underestimated.
E: You pointed out a significant turning point in Russia happened back in December 2011, with the protests in Bolotny Square against manipulated elections. What do you believe sparked this rising dissent?
D: The protests were a culmination of disillusionment with the system after years of increasing control and oppression. People saw the falsified election results as the last straw, and that moment marked a shift in the public’s willingness to resist. It was Putin’s moment of realization that people were rising against him, and that fear led him to strengthen his grip on power.
E: You speak of what you called the “Navalny effect.” How did this figure impact the political landscape, and why do you believe Putin perceived him as such a threat?
D: Alexei Navalny became a symbol of hope for many Russians who wanted change. His ability to mobilize people and articulate grievances threatened Putin’s regime. I believe this is why, through various means, Putin has tried to suppress him, drawing a connection between Navalny’s influence and the protests we saw.
E: Since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, you’ve lost many friends—some due to their dissent, and others due to their unwavering support for the regime. How has this affected you personally and professionally?
D: It’s been immensely painful. I’ve lost friends who are now prisoners or who’ve tragically died. The polarization among my peers has been alarming. Some who were once rational and humane have become aggressive supporters of the regime. Engaging with them is incredibly disheartening; our conversations can feel futile.
E: You currently live in Odesa, Ukraine. What drives your decision to stay in a war zone when many choose to flee? Where do you draw the line between reporting and personal safety?
D: My commitment to reporting the truth is what keeps me here. I feel a responsibility to share the stories of those affected by this war. However, I have a threshold for risk; if the situation becomes life-threatening, I will reconsider. Finding that balance is a constant struggle for reporters in the field.
E: as you witness the tragic realities faced by Ukrainians, how do you cope with the emotional weight of these experiences?
D: It’s challenging. I try to maintain a connection to the human side of my reporting, to remind myself that behind the statistics and the stories, there are real lives at stake. I also rely on conversations with friends and family, even in these times of conflict. It’s crucial to remind ourselves that we are human, and it’s okay to feel deeply affected by what we see and report.
E: Thank you, Martin, for sharing your insights and experiences. Your perspective is invaluable in understanding the dynamics at play in this tumultuous time.
D: Thank you for having me; it’s important to keep these discussions alive.
E: And to our viewers, don’t miss the chance to check out the full interview with Martin Dorazín, which includes much more about his experiences as a war correspondent. Stay informed and stay safe!