London – Journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who He protested the war in Ukraine live on Russian state televisionleft the German newspaper Mold Welt and returns to Russia.
The information was disclosed by him on social networks, justifying his departure from the company due to the expiration of his three-month contract and a court hearing for custody of his children in his country of origin.
But Marina’s stay in Germany was not well received by journalists in the country, who questioned her years-long involvement with Kremlin propaganda and protested that other Russian media professionals didn’t have the same opportunity in Europe as her – and that might mean something. It’s about the end of his short career in the German media.
Hiring of Russian journalist sparks protests in Germany
Marina Ovsyannikova became world-famous in March when state broadcaster Channel One occupied a television news program with a live-streamed poster denouncing Russian propaganda and calling for an end to the war.
“NO TO WAR. Stop the War. Don’t believe the propaganda. They’re lying to you here,” read the sign of the Russian journalist uttering anti-conflict words seconds before the broadcast was cut off to a recorded VT.
About a month later, German newspaper Die Welt announced that Marina had been hired as a freelance reporter to cover Eastern European issues..
In the first article, titled “The Russians Are Afraid” (in Portuguese, “The Russians Are Afraid”) signed by the Russians, he touched upon the legal consequences he has faced since the protest.
“My life is divided into a before and an after,” the journalist wrote. “At one point, moral principles were more important than well-being, peace, and an orderly life. The war in Ukraine was the point of no return and silence was no longer an option.”
Marina also gave interviews to various channels and vehicles in the West, including American CNN.
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The turmoil created by the protest and the potential risks the journalist faced in defying the Russian authorities motivated her to be recruited by Die Welt.
At the time, Ulf Poschardt, editor-in-chief of the Welt Group and spokesperson for WeltN24, said he had the courage to face Russian audiences at a critical moment.
“In doing so, he defended the most important journalistic ethics despite the threat of state repression. I am excited to work with him,” he told the dpa news agency. “Your job at Die Welt will give you more visibility and therefore more security,” he added.
(3) On Sunday, the Russian journalist posted on Instagram that he was ending his partnership with the German newspaper, citing the expiration of a three-month contract – this was not disclosed to the press at the time of recruitment.
“It was a unique experience in free journalism. Thank you to the Die Welt team for supporting me at such a difficult time,” said Marina. “Time passed without realizing it. Our 3-month contract is over. I keep moving forward.”
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However, Marina’s presence in Germany was not welcomed by journalists in the country. The criticism even turned into organized protests on the streets of Berlin, and this repression may be the real reason for the Russian journalist’s dismissal.
As soon as her recruitment was announced by Die Welt, Ukrainian journalists working in Germany widely criticized the decision, claiming that they could not forgive Marina years of work for “Russian propaganda”, according to a DW report at the time.
“[Isso é] “It is a blow to the face not only of Ukrainians, but also of independent Russian media journalists who have been banned and destroyed,” one critic told the German newspaper at the time.
Days after the announcement of Die Welt, protesters staged a protest in front of the vehicle’s building in Berlin with placards that read “no ex-propagandists”.
In addition, a petition written in English was opened on Change.org, titled “There is no study of Marina Ovsyannikova and other Kremlin propagandists in the Western media”.
Writer Ivan Kozachenko pointed out that Marina’s protest to Russian state television was “a well-planned campaign by the Kremlin to influence public opinion in the West.” DW reports that by April, nearly 700 people had signed the petition.
Russian journalists criticized Ovsyannikova’s hiring on social media, including Farida Rustamova, a former employee of Russian publisher Dozhd:
“Dozens of independent Russian journalists are currently looking for work in Europe. They are qualified and all have a good reputation.
But it was Marina Ovsyannikova who got a job at Die Welt. With all due respect, he wasn’t the one who took the risk of working in Putin’s Russia.”
Dozens of independent Russian journalists are currently looking for work in Europe. They are highly qualified and all have a good reputation. But Marina Ovsyannikova, who got a job at Die Welt. With all due respect, he wasn’t the one who risked security in Putin’s Russia.
— Farida Rustamova (@faridaily_) April 11, 2022
Hendrik Zörner, representative of the German Journalists’ Union, said in an interview with DW in April that the hiring decision depends on the newspaper.
“I cannot say that this journalist has really broken with the Putin system. “If he did, it’s perfectly normal for him to get another chance in the West,” he said.
He added that it was advantageous to use the image of the Russian journalist at that time, as he was famous for the German newspaper. However, this did not mean that other professionals in Russia would have the same opportunity.
“I would love for journalists who fled Russia because of their faith to have a new chance in Germany – and there are many of them already – but there probably won’t be that many vacancies in German media,” he told DW. .
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Russian journalist to hold custody hearing in home country
Marina Ovsyannikova said she returned to Russia after announcing her departure from Die Welt. On July 5, she will hold a custody hearing with her ex-husband, an employee of Russian state broadcaster RT, to fight for custody of the children.
“I have to return to Russia,” he wrote. “It is very painful for me to be back in a place where everything is filled with hate and militaristic symbols. But unfortunately this is my only chance to see my children and influence their future.”
He said he has an almost 18-year-old son and has “the right to self-determination.” But he intends to get custody of his 11-year-old daughter to get him out of the country.
“Only outside of Russia can I instill in him the right moral values. Every human being should grow up in a free western society where their life is priceless.”
The Russian journalist also touched on the possible risks he may face in the country ruled by Vladimir Putin, including prosecution and jail time.
“I will not cowardly hide and remain silent. It is in the interest of the authorities for all the protesters to go abroad. They are deliberately expelled from the country.
Maybe they’ll arrest me at the airport. The charges will be made under ‘spreading fake news’ for my live protest on Channel One or my anti-war news and posts on social media.
But no matter what, I won’t go back on my word. No power can force me to compromise my conscience. I will always call war war.
And those who started this bloody massacre are the criminals who will end up in the quays of the International Court.”
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source: Noticias
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