It's one of the sad facts of life that journalists often do their best work in places that offer the least welcoming environments. When protections for free speech and independent institutions are available, the job of the press is easier, but so is the temptation to get lazy and forget that your job is to make the politically powerful uncomfortable. The real test comes when calling bullshit on the state might land you in jail, or worse. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in an atmosphere of authoritarianism has the country's few remaining independent journalists displaying remarkable courage as they suffer the consequences for honestly doing their work.
"A criminal case has been opened against a Siberian journalist whose news website published content critical of Russia's invasion of Ukraine," The Guardian reported last week. "Mikhail Afanasyev, chief editor of Novy Fokus in the Russian region of Khakassia, was arrested by security forces on Wednesday over the website's reporting on 11 riot police who allegedly refused deployment to Ukraine."
