Russian film criticism Ekaterina Barabach escaped on April 13 from her residence. It was targeted by an investigation for the dissemination of “false information” on the Russian army.
An escape by thinking of singer Brassens and actor Pierre Richard: Russian film criticism Ekaterina Barabach, who risked up to ten years in prison in his country for having denounced the war in Ukraine, fled for France thanks to the help of reporters without borders (RSF). “I left my 96 -year -old mother telling myself that I will never see her again. But it was better not to see it by being free rather than not seeing it because of the prison ”said the 64 -year -old journalist on Monday at a press conference at the RSF headquarters in Paris.
“Adventure” From his escape lasted two and a half weeks but Ekaterina Barabach, who spoke in English, did not reveal the details of her journey, for security reasons. “Now I am here and it will not be easy to start a new life”continued the journalist, thanking all those who helped her in her flight, including RSF and the Russians in exile. She now requests political asylum in France.
The Russian federal prison service announced on April 21 that it was placed on the list of people wanted. Ekaterina Barabach had disappeared from her home on April 13, when she was under house arrest as part of an investigation for broadcasting “fake news” on the Russian army. This measure had been ordered by a Moscow court after its arrest at the end of February.
“Worse than death”
According to her, the Russian authorities criticize her four former publications on social networks, in which she had virulent the offensive carried out in Ukraine since February 2022. “So, a bunch of bastards, you bombed (Ukraine), shaved from whole cities, killed a hundred children, shot down peaceful people, maintained Marioupol under blockade, deprived millions of people of a normal life, forced to go abroad?”had she written in a publication cited by the independent media Meduza. “This war is particularly horrible for me because my son and his family live in Ukraine, in kyiv, and I imagine the missiles fall on their house”explained the journalist born in Kharkiv under the USSR (current Ukraine).
According to her, her «chance» is to have been under house arrest after his arrest, rather than amprisoned: “This is why I decided to escape”. “Prison in Russia is worse than death”she added, saying that she thought of suicide. According to RSF, Ekaterina Barabach has torn off its electronic bracelet to escape and traveled more than 2,800 kilometers. His trip was “Long and exhausting”said the director general of the NGO, Thibaut Bruttin. “Several times, we could believe that it had been arrested or risked being; Several times, the plan has changed. Once, we thought it dead ”he added, praising “His moral determination” and his “Physical courage”.
«Censure»
“She made the choice of France with cheerfulness and joy: throughout her escape, she sang Georges Brassens and she dreamed of Pierre Richard during her first night of freedom”smiled the manager, hoping that Ekaterina Barabach could attend the Cannes Festival, which begins on May 13. Journalist for the Russian language service of Radio France International (RFI) until 2022, Ekaterina Barabach has been collaborating with the independent media Republic.
In October 2022, RSF had already participated in the escape of another Russian journalist, Marina Ovsiannikova, who incurred ten years in prison after having brandished an anti-war sign on state television. “Since the escape of Marina Ovsiannikova, the possibilities of escaping have been reduced. This is why we are relieved today, because it proves that it is possible ”even if “It’s very dangerous”Thibaut Bruttin commented. In the latest annual RSF ranking on press freedom, published on Friday, Russia is 171st out of 180. “There is no more journalism in Russia” due to “Censorship”deplored Ekaterina Barabach, who hopes to be able to continue his profession in France.
