Russian Journalist, Nobel Peace Laureate Dmitry Muratov Speaks At SCSU

NEW HAVEN, CT —Dmitry Muratov, an independent Russian journalist who covers Russian politics and policy and an open dissenter of the war in Ukraine, will be speaking at Southern Connecticut State University on Friday.

Muratov, who in June auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize for $103.5 million with all money going to benefit Ukrainian refugees, will speak at 7 p.m. in the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Muratov released editions of his independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, in both Russia and Ukraine in defiance of the Russian media watchdog’s rules. The publication has for years has been critical of the Kremlin. Muratov is the co-founder of Novaya Gazeta, established in 1993, and served as its editor-in-chief from 1995 to 2017, and once again in 2019.

The paper was forced to suspend publication in March amid repression of critics of the offensive in Ukraine, and in July was set to be stripped of its license under court order.

Monday, a Moscow court upheld that order and revoked its media license.

Muratov was the recipient of various honors, including the International Press Freedom Award in 2007 from the Committee to Protect Journalists. Seven Novaya Gazeta journalists have been murdered since 2000, in connection with their investigations.

Muratov has established himself as a highly regarded advocate for an independent press and is well-known for investigating abuses of power. He was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.”

With U.S. and Russian relations at their most contentious since the Cold War, Muratov’s visit is well-timed to deliver a unique insider perspective on the hostage situation involving WNBA star Brittney Griner and the escalating civil unrest in Russia. The latter includes the raiding of anti-war protest journalist Marina Ovsyannikova’s home.

What to know if you go:

Tickets: VIP/PREMIUM $50 (with post-event photo opportunity limited seating-100 seats)

REGULAR General Public: $20 (M1,M2,M5,M6 back rows of M3 and M4 and all Upper sections)

To purchase tickets, click here.

Seating: Reserved Seating

Sponsored by SCSU Integrated Communications & Marketing, the Judaic Studies Program, and the departments of Political Science, History, Journalism and English.