Q&A with an expert

Interview between Jennifer Clibbon of CBS News and Russian investigative journalist, Elena Milashina in 2009.
Q. You've said it is very difficult to be a journalist in Russia today and that freedom of expression doesn't really exist. How bad is it?
A. Right now we can't even criticize freedom of the press in Russia because we don't have it.
Most people in Russia get their information from television and it is totally controlled by the government.
This year, over the past ten months, six human rights activists, journalists and opposition politicians were murdered. They were all critics of the Russian government [and killed] for being brave enough to talk openly.
Q. Have you had death threats?
A. Yes, I do have threats. In Beslan, I escaped being beaten. But my friends were attacked. My editors have [tried to] stop me from going to Chechnya because of threats. But I don't listen to my editors because there are lots of people who need my help.
Q. When it's so dangerous, why do you continue?
A.  Sometimes it is harder to stop than to continue. To stop for me would mean to betray my friends, to be unhappy for the rest of my life, to stop helping people... I want to punish the killers in the only way I can. The only way I can is to continue to write about them.

Q. What are you trying to accomplish? You take incredible risks. Are you hoping that your work will indirectly push the official agenda, or bring about policy changes down the road?

A. I do what I have to do. Whatever happens, will happen.It's not that I expect something back from my job, changes or even thanks. It's my job. It's what I have to do.

Q. You've covered the whole Putin period and what you see as a downward slide in journalism and human rights. Do you expect changes from President Dmitri Medvedev?

A. Medvedev is just the person Putin chose to be in power instead of him for a little while. He is not independent. But when [he came to power], many people in Russia and in the world asked this question and have hope that Medvedev can change the situation. All these people, all these dreams can change the situation in Russia. This can support him and make him independent.


Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2009/11/13/f-interview-elena-milashina.html

Journalists in Russia Face Danger

       In Russia, many journalists are trying to cover important political stories highlighting the extensive corruption taking place in the Russian government.  These journalists are writing these stores to reveal some of the misconduct going on in the political system.  Printing these stories could possibly bring about less corruption, but unfortunately many of these journalists are killed before their words can be heard.
       Since 1992, 76 journalists have died while working in Russia.  The problem with the number of journalists that have died is that over 60% of those deaths have been murder.  In some of these murders it is clear that the person or group that committing them are the ones that are being targeted in the journalists' story.  However even though the criminals can be identified, they are not being put to justice.  In 90% of all the murder cases involving journalists have had no one be held accountable.
       Today, Russia has one of the most corrupt governments in the world.  As long as there are people trying to uncover this corruption, Russia has a chance of reforming.  Ever since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country has been making strides toward being a freer country.  However since so many journalists are being killed while trying to help Russia, it means that with every story that doesn't get printed, Russia gets farther and farther away from being a legitimate democracy.
       To combat this problem, the U.N. and other countries must put more pressure on Russia to become more responsible and to protect journalists.  If Russia continues to allow journalist to die then the U.N. must attempt to actively protect journalists.  Because if the the journalists' can print their stories then Russia's corruption can be exposed and their political problems can begin to be fixed.