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Yulia Latynina (Twitter)

Yulia Latynina, who contributes to independent media outlets Novaya Gazeta and Echo Moskvy radio, fled Russia, following a series of attacks launched against her and her family.

“I have left Russia in connection to threats to my life”, the journalist wrote on Twitter on 10 September.

The most recent incident took place on 3 September when her car, which was parked next to her parent’s house, was destroyed by an arson attack. In July of this year, the journalist’s car and her parents’ house had been sprayed with noxious gas leading to eight people, including children, to be poisoned. In August of last year, faeces were poured onto Latynina when she was on her way to work at the Echo Moskvy station.

“The climate of impunity in Russia has clearly created a dangerous and toxic environment for independent journalists to operate in,” Hannah Machlin, project manager, Mapping Media Freedom, said.

“These disturbing attempts to stop Latynina from reporting cannot be tolerated. We call on the Russian authorities to investigate these violent attacks swifty and thoroughly”.

The journalist said that by 2016 there had been over a dozen attacks against her. Novaya Gazeta also issued a statement saying that Latynina was regularly receiving threats and a few years ago there was an assassination attempt against her.

Latynina has conducted a number of high profile investigations at Novaya Gazeta including into billionaire Evgeny Prigozhin, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. She reported that he orchestrated the online harassment of opposition activists in St. Petersburg.

Latynina is a columnist for independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and host of the show Kod Dostupa on Echo Moscky radio.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”12″ style=”load-more” items_per_page=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1505144974777-6cd3b4b8-1c0d-3″ taxonomies=”7349″][/vc_column][/vc_row]