Kirill Martynov directs from Riga, Latvia, the European edition of Novaya Gazeta, the famous Russian opposition newspaper, which had to cease publication due to the declared censorship following the invasion of Ukraine. Long deputy to Nobel Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, Kirill Martynov became the editor-in-chief of this new medium in April. This interview was conducted by the Bulgarian site Club Z. It took place in Strasbourg, where the journalist was the guest of the European Parliament.
Club Z: How did you come to resurrect Novaya Gazeta from Riga?
Kirill Martynov : We founded Novaïa Gazeta Europe relying on many of our Muscovite collaborators, to whom we have given the opportunity to continue working. Because the practice of journalism as we understand it is now subject to criminal prosecution in Russia. From the beginning of the war, I was preparing for this scenario because it was clear that we would not change our editorial policy because of Vladimir Putin and his war. It meant that, sooner or later, we would have problems. We held out under this regime of military censorship until March 28th. Then we had a serious discussion to find out whether we should continue to work under these conditions. At the beginning of March, I left Russia and started preparing the ground to start all over again in Europe. My wife accompanies me, my parents remained on the other hand in Russia.
My question may be too personal, but do you have the same vision of what is happening in Russia?
We don’t talk about it much, actually… I think our elders often tend to think that, of t