War in Ukraine: in Russia, voices are trying to rise

Russia: Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, at an editorial conference (archive from 2015) AP - Alexander Zemlianichenko

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On the 3rd day of the war, Russia is still gripped by stupor and the authorities are trying at all costs to silence all the voices that could thwart his story of a "special operation for humanitarian purposes".

President Zelensky on Saturday called on Russians to tell Vladimir Putin to stop the war.

In Russia some voices are trying to be raised.

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With our correspondent in Moscow,

They pose with their faces uncovered, assume public positions and for them often, it's a first.

Here a great ballerina from the

, there a famous Russian actress, yesterday a very popular singer and his fashion designer partner, a youtuber... journalists too who are now 300 to have signed an open letter.

Experts in diplomacy, a reputable adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Friday again, the daily

published a column by Russian researchers and science journalists. 

Anti-war messages spread among inescapable stars and unexpected figures.

They express their anger, their shame, their despair too: “ 

 ” said Nobel Peace Prize winner

yesterday .

There are also those anonymous people who put a Ukrainian flag in their window or stick “No to war” slogans.

Those who, unable to express themselves, come to lay flowers in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow.

Face closed, body stiffened with silent rage.

► 

Vladimir Putin reacts to the Nobel Peace Prize of Russian journalist Dmitri Muratov

All take immense risks, incalculable even today.

Example of the determination of the hawks today: when asked about the possibility of Russia no longer being part of the Council of Europe, former President Dimitri Medvedev had this chilling answer "no problem, that means that we we will be able to reinstate the death penalty”.

The word "war" banned from public space by the Russian authorities

It already does not exist on state television where we always speak of a "special operation", sometimes even "for humanitarian purposes".

As soon as the conflict broke out, the warning had been issued: the media should not talk about it other than through official reports.

Ten Russian media outlets that continue to talk about war today have been ordered by the Russian telecommunications regulator to take down their content or they will be fined or blocked.

Are accused of delivering “false and unreliable” information, the last independent media such as the

, classified as a foreign agent last August and Novaya Gazeta and its editor Nobel Peace Prize.

Moscow has so far said nothing about possible losses in this conflict.

► 

: Intimidation, threats, assassinations: the difficult independence of Russian journalists

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