A onetime Russian opposition activist has taken a job at the Kremlin-run RT television channel, stirring heated debate among former colleagues and observers.
Once described as the face of Russia’s opposition, Maria Baronova had recently headed the Moscow branch of the Open Russia pro-democracy movement. In 2012, she was detained and charged over her role in organizing the anti-Kremlin Bolotnaya Square protests.
RT announced Friday that Baronova had taken the role of managing editor and would be working on a charity project for the channel. Critics have accused RT of being a propaganda arm of the Russian state.
“I like to work in projects that I’m not ashamed of, to make the world around us a better place,” Baronova was cited as saying by the RBC news channel.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dismissed Baronova’s new appointment as predictable, tweeting: “what surprises me is that this surprises others.”
Baronova told the Meduza news website that her ties to the opposition had made her “toxic” for potential employers and said her job at RT was not a moral compromise.
“What goes against my moral principles is when a lot of people insist long and hard that they’re good but at the same time they do evil things,” she said.
“As for people who everyone says are horrible monsters, but in fact are doing good — I take a positive view.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
