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War in Ukraine: “It is impossible to be a journalist in an independent media in Russia”

The Russian authorities have reinforced their legislative arsenal on the media to control the account they give to the Russian population of the invasion of Ukraine.

AP - Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr.

Text by: Martin Chabal

4 mins

Denis Kataev is a Russian journalist for Vladimir Putin's opposition television channel, Dojd.

With the start of the invasion of Ukraine and repressive laws against journalists, Denis Kataev chose to leave his country.

He hopes to broadcast independent information to Russians from Paris.

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Denis Kataev has worked for Dojd since 2010, the year this independent television channel was launched, one of the main opposition channels.

Dojd had to end its broadcasts on March 3, 2022, a week after the invasion of Ukraine began.

RFI: Since March 3, 2022, you can no longer exercise your profession as a journalist.

With the start of the Russian invasion, the TV channel you worked for had to shut down after restrictions imposed by Russian regulator Roskomnadzor and the danger of repressive laws.

Against this background, you decided to leave Russia.

Why ?

Denis Kataev:

Because for now, 

It is impossible to be a journalist in an independent media in Russia.

Today, it is dangerous to do this job.

The law against false information, against fake news, was adopted by Parliament and since then one can be accused for the simple use of the word “war”.

It's "military operation" and that's it.

In this context, one can be accused of fifteen years in prison.

Added to this is the law on treason, which provides for twenty years in prison.

There is no doubt that these laws were passed against independent journalists like all of us.

It was in this context that I decided to leave Russia, and so did my colleagues.

Since the start of the invasion in Ukraine, more than 200 independent journalists have already left the country.

Most are in Georgia.

I am here, in Paris.

It is impossible for me to live and work in the aggressor country.

It does not correspond to my conscience.

So your goal is to work from France?

Yes, of course, we would like to continue working to inform people in Russia.

We feel the need and demand for independent information here.

There are many people who have to stay in Russia.

It is a privilege to leave the country.

This is why we really feel the need for information.

Right after the start of the war, our channel Dodj was able to broadcast for a week.

We got over 25 million viewers a day on YouTube.

It's a lot.

We gained audience during this period.

► To read also: RFI website blocked in Russia

This pushes us to create small offices all over Europe, for example, here in Paris.

With my colleagues, we have already started the broadcasts from our studios in Paris, last Friday.

We are going to create the network of independent journalists.

It will be Dojd, but not like it was before.

It will be Dojd Global.

Your television channel has been forced to close its doors.

How will you manage to reach the Russian population from abroad?

Russians can continue to inform themselves by using technical tools, for example to access resources that are blocked.

It's relatively easy.

Even my mother who stayed in Russia told me that it was possible to get information.

She had no difficulty with that.

This is why we are sure that it is possible to inform people in Russia and I think that is the goal for the moment.

During the war, it is very important to do this.

And you plan to return to work in Russia?

I'm sure I won't return to Vladimir Putin's Russia.

It is dangerous for me as a journalist.

But also because I can't stay in the aggressor country, as I said.

And I can't stay in a country that doesn't respect citizens' rights and kills its neighbors.

For me, it's impossible.

That's why I would like to continue working as a freelance journalist and especially as a Dojd journalist for the time being.

For that, we will rely on the office in Paris.

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