The news of Muratov’s attack was shown in a series of tweets, posted to Novaya Gazeta’s account. The tweet showed a photo of a train car splattered in what could initially be taken as blood and a photo taken by Muratov himself, covered in a red substance.
“They poured oil paint with acetone in the compartment. Eyes burn terribly. Train Moscow-Samara. Oily smell all over the car,” the tweet, which was translated from Russian, quoted Muratov as saying. “Departure has already been delayed by 30 minutes. I’ll try to wash off.”
Muratov added that his attacker, who remains unknown, shouted, “Muratov, here’s to you for our boys.”
The Novaya Gazeta, Russia’s oldest independent newspaper, has been one of the main publications targeted by the Kremlin’s most recent takedown of independent journalism. Since the invasion of Ukraine, new laws have criminalized reporting that goes against the Kremlin’s official account.
Agence France-Presse reported that Russian lawmakers have even moved to impose laws that would push jail time upon anyone who publishes “fake news” about the Russian army in reports regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to the Moscow Times, the Gazeta has reportedly been threatened with closure by the Russian government several times.
To evade the newest censorship laws, the Novaya Gazeta announced at the end of March that it would be suspending its Russian operations, creating a separate, European edition of the paper run by previous staff that chose to leave Russia.
Muratov, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, was honored as a champion of free speech in his country. Muratov was subtly threatened personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin after his win.
According to DW, an international free speech broadcaster based in Germany, the Kremlin previously congratulated Muratov on his award before Putin said at a public event in Moscow, “If he covers himself with the Nobel Prize like a shield to violate Russian laws, he does so consciously. If he doesn’t break Russian law and there’s no reason to declare him a ‘foreign agent,’ then that won’t happen.”
Media outlets and non-government agencies that receive financial assistance from outside of Russia have to register themselves as “foreign agents,” DW reported. Muratov responded last year by saying, “The state can do what it wants, but we will accept the prize; we will not renounce the prize.”
Last month, Muratov announced on the Novaya Gazeta website that he planned to auction his Nobel Peace Prize and donate the earnings to the Ukrainian Refugee Fund.
“There are already over 10 million refugees. I ask the auction houses to respond and put up for auction this world-famous award,” he said.
Newsweek reached out to the Novaya Gazeta for additional comment but did not hear back prior to publication.
