Russian authorities may have shut down his newspaper, but journalist Dmitry Muratov refuses to be silenced.
When we meet in Moscow, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta and Russia’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate is concerned about how far the Kremlin will go in confrontation with the West.
“Two generations have lived without the threat of nuclear war,” Mr. Muratov told me. “But that period is over. Will Putin push the nuclear button, or not? Who knows? Nobody knows. There’s not a single person who can say for sure.”
Since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow’s nuclear skirmishes have been raging.
Senior officials have dropped rare hints that Western countries arming Ukraine should not push Russia too far. A few days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to have tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
A close aide of his, Nikolai Petroshev, then warned that Russia had “a modern unique weapon capable of destroying any enemy, including the United States”.
Bluff and bluster? Or a risk that needs to be taken seriously? Mr. Muratov has raised troubling signs within Russia.
“We see how state propaganda is preparing people to think that nuclear war is not a bad thing,” he says. “Nuclear war and nuclear weapons are advertised on TV channels here like they are advertising pet food.”
“They announce: ‘We have this missile, that missile, another type of missile.’ They talk about targeting Britain and France, about creating a nuclear tsunami that washes over America. Why do they say that? So that the people here will be prepared.”
Recently on Russian state TV, a prominent talk show host suggested that Russia should “declare any military target on the soil of France, Poland and Great Britain as a legitimate target for [Russia]”.
The same presenter also suggested “leveling an island with strategic nuclear weapons and testing or firing tactical nuclear weapons, so that no one is under the illusion”.
Yet state propaganda here portrays Russia as a country of peace and Ukraine and the West as aggressors. Many Russians believe this.
“People in Russia have been influenced by propaganda,” says Mr. Muratov. “Propaganda is a kind of radiation. Everyone is a victim of it, not only Russians. In Russia, propaganda is twelve TV channels, tens of thousands of newspapers, social media like VK [the Russian version of Facebook] which is completely state-owned. Serves ideology.”
“But what if the propaganda suddenly stopped tomorrow?” I asked. “What will the Russians think if it all goes quiet?”
“Our young generation is brilliant,” replies Mr Muratov. “It’s well-documented. About a million Russians have left the country. Many of those who have stayed are clearly against what’s going on in Ukraine. They’re against the hell out of it. Russia has made it there.
“I believe that as soon as the propaganda stops, this generation – and all the rest of the wise – will speak.”
“They’re already doing that,” he continues. “Twenty-one thousand administrative and criminal cases have been opened against protesting Russians. The opposition is in prisons. Media outlets have been closed. Many activists, citizens and journalists have been labeled as foreign agents.
“Does Putin have a support base? Yes, a huge one. But these are the elderly people who see Putin as their grandson, as someone who will protect them and who will pay them every month. brings their pensions and wishes them a happy New Year every year. These people believe that their real grandchildren should go and fight and die.”
Last year Mr Muratov auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize to raise money for child refugees in Ukraine. He is less optimistic about the future.
“There will never be normal relations between the people of Russia and Ukraine again. Never. Ukraine will not be able to come to terms with this tragedy.”
He further said that political repression will continue against all opponents of the government in Russia.
“My only hope is from the younger generation; those who see the world as a friend and not as an enemy and who want Russia to be loved and Russia to love the world.
“I hope this generation will outlast me and Putin.”
