Russian journalist who criticised Ukraine war escaped to France with NGO's help

A Russian newsman captious of Moscow's penetration of Ukraine said connected Monday she had fled to France aft Reporters Without Borders (RSF) helped coordinate her escape. The NGO hailed her resilience and said her communicative was a "message of hope" for different journalists.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine successful February 2022, Moscow has launched an unprecedented crackdown connected media freedoms, making it amerciable to criticise the service and its warfare against Ukraine.

Journalist and movie professional Ekaterina Barabash was arrested successful February connected allegations of spreading "false information" astir the Russian equipped forces successful respective posts she made connected societal media.

She was detained soon aft attending the Berlinale movie festival successful February and fled location apprehension successful April.

Speaking successful an interrogation with French quality bureau AFP astatine the media watchdog's office successful Paris connected Monday, Barabash, 64, said she adjacent considered termination to debar going to prison.

"I began looking for immoderate poison," said Barabash, who faces up to 10 years successful situation for criticising Moscow's subject enactment successful Ukraine.

"Russian prison, it's not a life. It is worse than death."

Speaking to reporters astatine the quality conference, Barabash said her travel to France was "difficult" and took astir two-and-a-half weeks.

Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, helped bring her to safety.

Resilience

The journalist, whose lone lad lives successful Ukraine, had written for respective quality outlets, including the Russian work of Radio France Internationale (RFI).

(with AFP)