MT's editor-in-chief reflects on 2023

Dear readers of The Moscow Times,

Another year has passed, and it seems the rifts that divide us are deeper than ever.

I see this both in my home country, the United States, as well as in Russia, where everything from age, gender, religion and sexual orientation to geography, ethnicity and economic status are parameters determining the haves and the have-nots — and even who lives and who dies.

This year, we have also seen Russia sink to new lows in press freedom. Friends and former colleagues have had to leave the country as the state ramped up its pressure on foreign journalists. U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was detained on charges of failing to register as a "foreign agent."

The Moscow Times itself was named a “foreign agent,” in the Russian government’s latest effort to silence our journalism.

In the most shocking move, my former colleague Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges for simply doing his job. He will spend this New Year in a Russian prison rather than with his family and friends.

"My former colleague Evan Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges for simply doing his job. He will spend this New Year in a Russian prison rather than with his family and friends."

Former Moscow Times reporter Evan Gershkovich in Moscow court, April 2023

In times like these, I can only express my gratitude that you continue to trust The Moscow Times as an independent, balanced source of information on Russia and its war on Ukraine.

Since completing our relocation to Amsterdam this year, The Moscow Times’ English-language service has pursued several exciting new projects and initiatives.

We have expanded our climate and environmental reporting, hiring a climate reporter and adding a dedicated section to climate change coverage on our website. While the war in Ukraine and now the war in Gaza have understandably captured the world’s attention, the climate crisis continues to progress.

We are also expanding our coverage of Russia’s regions and ethnic republics beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg — which are often overlooked by international media coverage — with a section on our website.

We launched a new podcast, Russia on the Record, where we discuss the most important stories from across Russia and its neighbors.

Lastly, I am proud of the development this year of our opinion section, which has become a vibrant space publishing takes from experts, activists and analysts that you won’t find anywhere else.

We have much more in store in the new year to come — and we’re excited that you will be joining us for it.

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Wishing you a happy holidays and New Year!

Samantha Berkhead
Editor-in-Chief
 

Samantha Berkhead is an editor and journalist hailing from western New York. She previously worked as a managing editor of the International Journalists' Network in Washington, D.C. Samantha has worked for The Moscow Times since 2019.