“This is the prize of my dead colleagues. And what they write in social networks – I do not care. ” Meduza spoke with Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov, who has just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Editor-in-Chief of Novaya Gazeta Dmitry Muratov and Filipino journalist Maria Ressa received Nobel Peace Prize for 2021. According to the organizing committee of the award, the journalists were awarded “for their efforts to preserve freedom of expression, which is a prerequisite for democracy and peace.” Meduza’s special correspondent Svetlana Reiter spoke with Dmitry Muratov.

– Dima, tell me for you this premium – surprise?

– Absolute. I fought with when I had several calls from Norway. You see, quarreling with Milashina was more important to me than answering international calls. And this, it turns out, was called to inform … I missed this “exciting moment” when you are told that you are a laureate, before being announced to everyone else. As a result, the head of our press service Nadya Prusenkova announced this to me.

– What said?

– “In thirty seconds you will know something.” And I replied: “I have no time, I swear with Milashina.”

– Did you know that you were nominated?

– I didn’t know anything. Of course not. Yesterday we opened the Ani Politkovskaya museum, called “Memory storage room No. 307”. We planted tulips in the garden yesterday. Yesterday we presented books to people who came to visit the editorial office in connection with the [15-й] anniversary of the death of Anya Politkovskaya. And then we got drunk.

– Will you be today too?

– No, it won’t work today.

– You have already said many times that this is not your prize.

– Not mine. Listen to me, I am the wrong beneficiary, there are real ones. It’s just that the Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded posthumously, it is awarded to living people. Apparently, they decided to give it to me living, in fact, meaning Yura Shchekochikhin, Igor Domnikov, Anya Politkovskaya, Nastya Baburova and Stas Markelov, Natasha Estemirova ( dead journalists, who collaborated with Novaya Gazeta, – Meduza’s note .

For me, these are also our deceased great founders of the editorial board Nugzar Mikeladze and Zoya Eroshok. As a matter of fact, this is their prize. I will not hide – this prize still belongs to the editorial office, and 130 Nobel laureates walk along the corridors.

– Which you will now raise the salary.

– Yes there is a dick. Do you want us to receive a foreign Nobel Prize in order to catch up with Meduza and become a “foreign agent”? Do I understand you correctly now?

– Are you going to refuse the award on this basis ?

– Of course not. We are not Pasternak.

– And you are not afraid that such idiotic collision – for the Nobel Peace Prize will you become a “foreign agent”?

– Let them admit. “THIS MESSAGE CREATED BY A FOREIGN AGENT, NOBEL WORLD PRIZE LAUREATE”, right? Will it be so? And fuck him.

I can say one thing for sure – this award will be distributed by the editorial board of Novaya Gazeta, not me. Absolutely the part will go to. We tried very hard to create this fund. And we really want these amazing, great children who have been diagnosed with other orphan diseases to receive some of the money from us – so that their life becomes easier. And I am sure that the editorial board will approve of this decision.

– You said that with the help of this award you are going to support Russian journalism. How will you do this?

– We don’t know yet. This is the general editorial opinion that we will discuss early next week, okay?

– Are you annoyed that social networks have already begun to write that this award in your person was “received by the presidential administration, the mayor’s office, Peskov”?

– I haven’t seen such nominees. And what they write, I don’t give a damn, I don’t read. This is the prize of my dead colleagues – those who gave their lives for people who fought against the dictatorship, who stood up for freedom of speech. And what they write there and where, I absolutely don’t give a fuck.

– What are your were there any sensations when you found out about the award?

– No special. By the way, when we opened the museum yesterday, I said that the bookmakers, in my opinion, are right when they say that Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny will receive the prize. If I were on the Nobel Committee, then I know who I would vote for.

– To whom?

– I told you.

– Bulk?

– I believe that Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny deserved it for his courage, yes. But he has everything ahead.

Interviewed Svetlana Reiter