Austin Tice’s Remains Found in Syria After 12 Years
May 11, 2025
Media Seeks Court Access in Missing Journalist Case as DNA Results Awaited
May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025 – Russia –
Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash made a daring escape from Moscow to Paris in April 2025, aided by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Barabash, a seasoned film critic and former contributor to Radio France Internationale, had been under house arrest since February 2025 for her outspoken criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She faced charges of spreading “false information” about the Russian military, which carried a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison. The Russian government had also labeled her a “foreign agent” due to her vocal stance against the war.
The escape, orchestrated by RSF, was a perilous operation that saw Barabash remove her electronic monitoring tag and travel over 2,800 kilometers through secret routes to evade authorities. RSF described it as one of the most complicated and risky missions they had undertaken in response to Russia’s crackdowns on dissent. Despite the immense dangers, Barabash successfully reached Paris on April 26, 2025, where she was greeted by RSF and expressed her gratitude for the organization’s assistance.
Upon her arrival in France, Barabash emphasized the grave situation for journalists in Russia, saying, “Journalism cannot exist under totalitarianism.” She highlighted the ongoing repression of the press, with over 1,200 people charged for anti-war positions, and at least 38 journalists imprisoned.
Barabash’s escape is emblematic of the larger struggle for press freedom in Russia, where the government’s increasingly harsh measures have silenced many independent voices. It also serves as a reminder of the extreme lengths journalists are forced to take in order to escape persecution, a reality that continues to threaten the global press community.
Her case sheds light on the growing risks faced by journalists in authoritarian regimes and the urgent need for international support and solidarity in the fight for press freedom.
Reference –
RSF coordinates journalist’s escape from Russian authorities
https://rsf.org/en/rsf-exfiltrates-ekaterina-barabash-russian-journalist-s-escape-moscow-paris
