Roman Aleksandrovich Dobrokhotov (Russian: Роман Александрович Доброхотов; born August 6, 1983) is a Russian investigative journalist, political scientist and former activist. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Insider, a Russia-focused media outlet.[1][2] He is also one of the founders and leaders of the 5th of December Party, a member of the federal political council of the Solidarnost movement and member of the political council of the Solidarnost's Moscow branch.

Roman Dobrokhotov
Dobrokhotov during a protest in defence of Article 31 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in Moscow
Роман Александрович Доброхотов Edit this on Wikidata
Born6 August 1983 Edit this on Wikidata
Moscow (Soviet UnionEdit this on Wikidata
EducationRussian and Ukrainian PhD in Political Science Edit this on Wikidata
Alma mater
OccupationInvestigative journalist, political scientist Edit this on Wikidata
Employer
Political party5th of December Party Edit this on Wikidata
Parent(s)
Awards
Position heldeditor-in-chief (The Insider, 2013–) Edit this on Wikidata

Early life and education

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Roman Dobrokhotov at the first demonstration of the Solidarnost movement in 2009

Roman Dobrokhotov studied at School No. 1525 [ru] in Moscow. His father is the Russian philosopher Alexander Dobrokhotov. From 2000 to 2006, he studied at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) at the Faculty of Political Science. In 2006—2007, in graduate school at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. The topic of Dobrokhotov's PhD thesis was "Trust in world politics".[3][4]

Career

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Since 2005, he has been leader of the movement "We", a member of the federal political council of the movement Solidarnost since the foundation of the movement in 2008, a member of the political council of the Moscow branch of Solidarnost since 2009. From 2006 to 2008, he was a columnist and deputy editor of the department of economics of the Novye Izvestia newspaper.[3][5][6]

From 2006 to 2008, he worked as a freelance employee of the radio station Govorit Moskva [ru], where he hosted the weekly program Очная ставка.[3]

In July 2009, Dobrokhotov announced his intention to run in elections to the Moscow City Duma[7] in a single-mandate constituency number 5. His nomination was supported by the Solidarnost movement. The Moscow City Electoral Commission refused to register him, motivating the refusal with claims to the quality of the collected signatures.[8]

In January 2010, he began working as a researcher at the State Academic University for the Humanities (GAUGN), where he taught political science.[3]

In March 2010, Dobrokhotov signed the online manifesto of the Russian opposition "Putin Must Go".[9][10]

Slon.ru

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He joined the Russian online newspaper Slon.ru in April 2010 and worked there as an editor[3][11] and correspondent.[12]

On May 26, 2011, in response to the "Appeal to the country's leadership with a request to change the cultural policy of Russia", he organized[13] a collection of signatures on his blog under the "Open letter to cultural figures".[14]

On June 7, 2011, a political debate between the Nashi and Solidarnost movements took place at the ArteFAQ club in Moscow. Maria Kislitsyna and Gleb Krainik spoke on behalf of Nashi, Roman Dobrokhotov, Kostantin Yankauskas [ru] and Anastasia Rybachenko on behalf of Solidarnost.[15] In June 2011, he took part in the forum of civil activists "Antiseliger".[16] In 2012, he accepted an offer to participate in the Seliger (forum) and gave a lecture there on corruption in the Kremlin,[17] in which he spoke about businessman Yury Kovalchuk, his son Boris Kovalchuk, Gennady Timchenko and about "Mikhail Ivanovich" (Vladimir Putin's pseudonym).[18]

Dobrokhotov became one of the founders of the "Party of December 5" in the summer of 2012.[19] He was nominated together with Sergei Davidis, Anna Karetnikova, Pyotr Tsarkov, Maria Baronova and eight other candidates from the "Party of December 5"[20] in the elections [ru] to the Russian Opposition Coordination Council,[21] which took place in October 2012.

In January 2013, Dobrokhotov became the author of the Come-Out Week project dedicated to the problems of the LGBT community.[22] In 2013, he resigned from Slon.ru along with part of the editorial board.[23] Andrei Goryanov [ru], then editor-in-chief of Slon.ru, commenting on Dobrokhotov's dismissal, said: "It was impossible to work with him further. He does not see himself as a journalist, but rather a politician."[24]

The Insider

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On 30 September 2021, the Federal Security Service (FSB) raided Dobrokhotov's home, where his wife lived, and his parents’ apartment in Moscow after he allegedly crossed the border illegally and has been placed on a wanted list.[25][26]

Incident with President Medvedev

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On December 12, 2008, Dobrokhotov attracted media attention by interrupting a speech by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, when Medvedev proposed constitutional amendments extending the presidential term.[27] He shouted: "The amendments are a disgrace”, adding that "there are no real elections."[27] Federal Guard Service escorted Dobrokhotov away and tried to shut his mouth.[28][29] The incident was cut from the broadcast of Medvedev's speech on federal TV channels, but was shown on the air of the St. Petersburg Channel Five.[28][29] On the same day, Dobrokhotov was fired from his job at the radio Govorit Moskva [ru].[30][31]

Participation in opposition rallies

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Protest action in defense of Article 31 (Freedom of assembly) of the Russian Constitution. Moscow, August 31, 2009.

On January 31, 2010, Dobrokhotov was detained at the rally Strategy-31 in support of Article 31 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.[32] On September 28, 2010, he was detained at a rally against the former mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov.[33]

On December 4, 2011, he was detained at Triumfalnaya Square in Moscow.[34] He spoke from the stage of the rally "For Fair Elections" on Chistye Prudy in Moscow on December 5, 2011. Dobrokhotov was inspired by the 1989 Baltic Way campaign and organized a bright flash mob Big White Ring. The action took place on February 26, 2012.[35]

On the birthday of Putin on October 7, 2012, he came with a rake to the rally "Let's take grandfather to retire" in Moscow; he was detained by the police.[36] A year earlier, he was detained at an action by the pro-government movement Nashi, dedicated to another birthday of Putin.[37]

On May 6, 2013, during the rally "Freedom to Prisoners on May 6" on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, Orthodox activists attacked Dobrokhotov.[38]

Awards

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  • 2018 Journalism as a Profession award in the Investigative journalism category.[39][40]
  • 2019 European Press Prize Investigative Reporting Award with ‘Unmasking the Salisbury Poisoning Suspects: A Four-Part Investigation‘.[41][42]
  • 2021 Redkollegia award for an article "Counter-sanctions. How FSB officers tried to poison Vladimir Kara-Murza" (Russian: Контрсанкции. Как сотрудники ФСБ пытались отравить Владимира Кара-Мурзу).[43]

References

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  1. ^ Greenberg, Andy (February 21, 2019). "The Russian Sleuth Who Outs Moscow's Elite Hackers and Assassins". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Roman Dobrokhotov". Journalismfund. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Доброхотов, Роман" [Dobrokhotov, Roman]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Проблемы доверия в мировой политике (на примере процессов европейской интеграции)" [Trust in world politics (European integration case study)]. Higher School of Economics (in Russian). Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Роман Доброхотов" [Roman Dobrokhotov]. LinkedIn. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Роман Доброхотов | Republic" [Roman Dobrokhotov | Republic]. republic.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Одномандатная оппозиция" [Single-mandate opposition]. gzt.ru (in Russian). July 7, 2009. Archived from the original on October 2, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  8. ^ ""Яблоко" примет участие в выборах в Мосгордуму" [Yabloko will take part in the elections to the Moscow City Duma]. BBC Russian Service (in Russian). September 4, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "229 страница подписей под обращением Путина в отставку | Путин должен уйти" [Page 229 of signatures under Putin's resignation | Putin Must Go]. putinavotstavku.org. Putin Must Go. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Фиш, Ольга. "Роман Доброхотов" [Roman Dobrokhotov]. 24smi.org (in Russian). Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Dobrokhotov, Roman (April 13, 2010). "Люди и милиционеры" [People and policemen]. dobrokhotov.livejournal.com (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via LiveJournal.
  12. ^ "Интервью Pussy Riot сразу после выступления: «Церковь слилась с государством в путинской России»" [Pussy Riot interview immediately after the performance: "The Church has merged with the state in Putin's Russia"]. Glavcom [uk] (in Russian). August 18, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Блогеры начали сбор подписей против контроля СМИ" [Bloggers began collecting signatures against media control]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Dobrokhotov, Roman (May 26, 2011). "Открытое письмо деятелям культуры" [The open letter to cultural figures]. dobrokhotov.livejournal.com (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via LiveJournal.
  15. ^ Azar, Ilya (June 8, 2011). ""Наши" vs "Солидарность"" ["Nashi" vs "Solidarity"]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  16. ^ "На одном поле" [On one field]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). June 21, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Судьба оранжевого человечка" [The fate of the orange man]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). July 31, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  18. ^ "Столкновение цивилизаций" [Clash of civilizations]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). May 30, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Дети Абая" [Abai's children]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). July 26, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "Новости" [News]. 5dec.ru (in Russian). October 20, 2012. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  21. ^ "Доброхотов Роман Александрович". compass.cvk2012.org (in Russian). Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  22. ^ Surganova, Elizaveta (February 22, 2013). "Поддержка меньшинства" [Minority support]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  23. ^ "Интернет-портал Slon лишился части редакции" [Internet portal Slon has lost part of the editorial board]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). February 25, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  24. ^ Akhmadieva, Anna (February 25, 2013). "На Slon.ru меняется редакция" [Slon.ru changes editorial board]. Izvestia (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  25. ^ Crouch, Erik (October 1, 2021). "Russian authorities harass family of exiled journalist Roman Dobrokhotov". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  26. ^ "Russia's FSB Seeks To Arrest Investigative Journalist". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. September 30, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Dyomkin, Denis; Buribaev, Aydar; Faulconbridge, Guy (December 12, 2008). Piper, Elizabeth (ed.). "Heckler slams Russian leader on constitution change". Reuters. Moscow. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Rostova, Nataliya (December 18, 2008). "Что творят эти питерские!" [What are these Petersburgers doing!]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "*Unknown title*". 5TV (Russian TV channel). December 12, 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2008 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ "Роман Доброхотов: Когда нечего терять, нет смысла бояться" [Roman Dobrokhotov: When there is nothing to lose, there is no point in being afraid]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). December 21, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  31. ^ Dobrokhotov, Roman (December 12, 2008). "День независимости от Конституции" [Independence Day from the Constitution]. dobrokhotov.livejournal.com (in Russian). Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via LiveJournal.
  32. ^ "Зимние забавы" [Winter fun]. Interfax (in Russian). January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  33. ^ "У здания мэрии милиция разогнала митинг противников Лужкова" [Police dispersed a rally of Luzhkov's opponents near the city hall]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). September 29, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  34. ^ "Полиция пресекла акцию на Триумфальной площади" [Police stopped the action on Triumfalnaya Square]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). December 4, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  35. ^ "Надо развивать именно этот вектор протестной активности" [It is necessary to develop precisely this vector of protest activity]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). April 9, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  36. ^ "В Москве задержали участников акции "Проводим дедушку на пенсию"" [Participants of the action "Let's go to retirement" detained in Moscow]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). October 7, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  37. ^ ""Наши" выстроились в горящее число 59 для поздравления Путину" ["Nashi" lined up at the burning number 59 to congratulate Putin]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). October 7, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  38. ^ "План Летова — победа России" [Letov's plan – Russia's victory]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). May 7, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  39. ^ "Winners Of Journalism As A Profession Awards Announced". khodorkovsky.com. November 24, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  40. ^ "Вручена премия "Профессия — журналист"" [Awarded the "Journalism as a Profession" prize]. Colta.ru (in Russian). November 27, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  41. ^ "Roman Dobrokhotov". European Press Prize. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  42. ^ "GIJN Webinar – Exposing the Navalny Poisoning: Black Market Data, Open Sources, and Attempted Murder". Global Investigative Journalism Network. March 17, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  43. ^ "Роман Доброхотов" [Roman Dobrokhotov]. Redkollegia (in Russian). Retrieved May 1, 2021.
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