The Insider (website)

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The Insider
Investigations, Reports, Analytics
TypeOnline newspaper
Owner(s)Roman Dobrokhotov
Founder(s)Roman Dobrokhotov
Editor-in-chiefAndris Jansons
Deputy editorTimur Olevskiy[1]
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
LanguageEnglish, Russian
HeadquartersRiga, Latvia
Websitetheins.ru/en (English)
theins.ru (Russian)

The Insider is an independent online newspaper specializing in investigative journalism, fact-checking and political analytics.[2][3][4] It was founded in 2013 by Roman Dobrokhotov,[5] a Russian journalist and the owner of the newspaper.[6] The newspaper is known for exposing fake news in Russian media.[7][8] The editorial office of the website is located in Riga, Latvia.[9] Andris Jansons is the editor-in-chief of the website.[10]

History

Matilda 2017 film

In February 2017, The Insider reported that the financing of the Russian film Matilda was obtained through the Cypriot offshore company Tradescan Consultant. The receipt of the funds was formalized as a loan, but without an obligation to return. The journalists handed over the materials of their investigation on the financing scheme to the Russian State Duma deputy Natalia Poklonskaya, which she subsequently sent to the Investigative Committee with a request to initiate a criminal case on corruption.[11][12][13]

Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal

In September 2018, in collaboration with the

Federal Migration Service of Russia claiming to issue a passport in the name of Alexander Petrov, one of individuals accused of poisoning Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the United Kingdom, indicating his connection with the Russian intelligence agencies.[15][16][17] The documents were provided by a source from the Russian police.[16] Roman Dobrokhotov himself admitted that he did not know how the personal data of "Boshirov" and "Petrov" were obtained, stating that he himself "did not violate any laws", and that The Insider received information from Bellingcat.[18] The Insider also discovered that the third participant in the poisoning of Skripal was associated with the poisoning of Bulgarian businessman Emilian Gebrev in 2015.[19][20]

Assassination of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili

The Insider, together with Bellingcat and Der Spiegel, conducted an investigation and on August 30, 2019 stated that the murder of the former military commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin on August 23, 2019 was committed by a man working for the Russian intelligence agencies.[21][22] The investigating group published materials in which they uncovered the real identity of the killer.[23][24] They stated that the FSB Special Purpose Centre [ru] (FSB special unit Vympel) was preparing the repeat killer Vadim Krasikov for this murder, and also provided some details of Krasikov's movements in Europe.[25][26]

Poisoning of Alexei Navalny

In 2017, Russia announced it had disposed of all available chemical weapons. In October 2020, following the

Novichok, a joint investigation by The Insider, Bellingcat, Der Spiegel and Radio Liberty concluded that:[27][28]

Not only did Russia did not destroy its chemical weapons, but it continues to develop it and produce for the needs of the special services — this is what we have found during our research that took more than a year to complete

They found out what scientists and government structures were involved in the development of the Novichok, their connection between each other and the alleged form in which the chemical weapon was used.[29][30][31][32]

In December 2020, The Insider and

Institute of Forensic Science of the FSB (chief — Major General Vladimir Mikhailovich Bogdanov), tracked Navalny for 3 years and worked on an operation to poison him.[37][38] The authors of the investigation named all the employees involved in the operation, as well as several of their pseudonyms. The investigation team used geolocation data, flight passenger records and telephone data to track and identify these agents.[39][40]

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

In April 2020, The Insider, Bellingcat[41] and BBC during the independent investigation identified one of the main persons involved in the Malaysian Boeing crash.[42][43] The Insider said that they used voice-comparison technology, travel information and phone records to establish a person's identity.[44] The outlet journalists contacted professor Catalin Grigoras of the National Center for Media Forensics at the University of Colorado Denver and asked him to conduct an analysis of audio recordings, as a result of which the likelihood ratio (LR) was 94.[45][46]

In November 2020, The Insider and Bellingcat conducted a joint investigation into how the

Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) coordinated the activities of the Bonanza Media media project, which spread fakes about the crash of a Malaysian Boeing in eastern Ukraine.[47][48][49][50] The investigation team said that the head of the project was GRU Colonel Sergey Chebanov.[51]

Poisoning of Vladimir Kara-Murza

In February 2021, a Bellingcat joint investigation[52] with The Insider and Der Spiegel said that Vladimir Kara-Murza was followed by the same FSB unit that allegedly poisoned Alexei Navalny before he fell ill in 2015 and 2017.[53]

2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouses explosions

Poisoning of Dmitry Bykov

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Insider covered events during the

Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On 23 March 2022, its correspondent Oksana Baulina (Russian: Оксана Баулина) was killed by a Russian missile in Kyiv. Before her death, she made several reports from Lviv and Kyiv. Prior to joining The Insider, Baulina worked as a producer for the Anti-Corruption Foundation.[54][55][56][57]

Awards

On November 10, 2017, The Insider received the World Forum for Democracy Council of Europe Award for Innovation in Democracy with the following wording: "The Insider is an investigative newspaper that seeks to provide its readers with information about the current political, economic and social situation in Russia, while also promoting democratic values and shedding light on issues related to human rights and civil society. In addition, The Insider implements the 'Antifake' project, with the objective of systematically debunking fake news in Russian media, and to help its audience to distinguish relevant information from fake news and propaganda."[7][8][58]

In May 2019, The Insider and Bellingcat received the European Press Prize for establishing the identity of the two men responsible for the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.[59][60]

In May 2019, The Insider's economic observer Boris Grozovski received Redkollegia award for his article "Calls to Fight Against Slavery Threatens the State System." How the market of "experts" works in the service of the SK" (Russian: «Призывы к борьбе с рабством угрожают государственному строю». Как устроен рынок «экспертов» на службе у СК).[61]

In August 2019, The Insider received Free Media Awards for "Supporting Independent Journalism in Eastern Europe".[62] This award is presented by two organisations — Zeit from Hamburg and the Fritt Ord foundation (Norway).[63][14]

In February 2021, The Insider's article "Counter-sanctions. How FSB officers tried to poison Vladimir Kara-Murza" (Russian: Контрсанкции. Как сотрудники ФСБ пытались отравить Владимира Кара-Мурзу) received Redkollegia award.[64]

Persecution in Russia

On 23 July 2021 Russia’s Ministry of Justice added The Insider to its list [ru] of "foreign mass media performing the functions of a foreign agent".[65][66] On 14 December 2021 a court in Moscow ordered the outlet to pay 1 million rubles.[67] On 15 July 2022, the publication was banned in Russia alongside Bellingcat. Following this restriction, any Russian citizen who aids Bellingcat or The Insider may face criminal prosecution; they would also be restricted from citing their publications. The office of the Prosecutor-General of Russia said that they were banned due to "posing a threat to the security of the Russian Federation".[68][9]

References

  1. ^ "Russian journalist Oksana Baulina killed amid Russian attack on Kyiv". Committee to Protect Journalists. March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Hall, Rachel (March 24, 2022). "Russian reporter killed in Kyiv shelling is fifth journalist to die in conflict". The Guardian. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
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  6. ^ Timoshenko, Diana; Volkova, Ksenia (December 4, 2013). "Журналисты в поисках читателей" [Journalists in search of readers]. Chastny Korrespondent. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Российский Insider получил премию Форума Совета Европы за демократию" [Russian Insider wins Council of Europe Forum Democracy Award]. Ukrinform (in Russian). November 10, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Council of Europe Democracy Innovation Award goes to Russian investigative newspaper The Insider". Council of Europe. Strasbourg, France. November 10, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Russia bans news outlet Bellingcat, labels it a security threat". Reuters. July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  10. ^ "О проекте" [About the project]. The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Sidorchik, Andrey (September 6, 2017). ""Матильда" и пустота. Чем закончится "крестовый поход" Натальи Поклонской" ["Matilda" and emptiness. How Natalia Poklonskaya's "crusade" will end]. Argumenty i Fakty. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  12. ^ Safonov, Mikhail (September 7, 2017). "Офшорная драма Поклонской. Была ли коррупция при съемках "Матильды"?" [Poklonskaya's offshore drama. Was there any corruption during the filming of Matilda?]. Business FM (in Russian). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "$10 млн, Путин и "общак Кремля": The Insider рассказал о финансировании фильма "Матильда"" [$ 10 million, Putin and the "common fund of the Kremlin": The Insider spoke about the financing of the film "Matilda"]. znak.com. February 9, 2017. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
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  18. ^ Korelina, Olga (September 28, 2018). "Полковник ГРУ, Герой России, воевал в Чечне. Кажется, журналисты узнали, кто такой "Руслан Боширов"" [Colonel of the GRU, Hero of Russia, fought in Chechnya. It seems that the journalists found out who Ruslan Boshirov is]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
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  20. ^ "Третий участник отравления в Солсбери пытался убить болгарского оружейника ядом типа "Новичок"" [A third participant in the Salisbury poisoning attempted to kill a Bulgarian gunsmith with Novichok poison]. The Insider (in Russian). February 7, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  21. ^ "Сокол Путина. Убийца чеченца в Германии связан с российскими спецслужбами" [Falcon of Putin. The murderer of a Chechen in Germany is associated with the Russian intelligence agencies]. The Insider (in Russian). August 30, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  22. ^ Prothero, Mitch (September 5, 2019). "An apparent assassination in Germany has all the hallmarks of the Kremlin — and Russia doesn't seem to care". Business Insider. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Киллер на велосипеде. Убийцей чеченца в Берлине оказался рецидивист Вадим Красиков, и его покрывает государство" [Killer on a bicycle. The murderer of a Chechen in Berlin turned out to be a repeat offender Vadim Krasikov, and he is covered by the state]. The Insider (in Russian). December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Investigation Names Alleged Killer of Chechen Rebel In Berlin". The Moscow Times. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  25. ^ ""В" значит "Вымпел". Как ЦСН ФСБ организовал убийство Хангошвили в Берлине" ["V" means "Vympel". How the SPC FSB organized the murder of Khangoshvili in Berlin]. The Insider (in Russian). February 15, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Киллер на велосипеде - II. Берлинский убийца Красиков служил в спецназе ФСБ "Вымпел"" [Killer on a Bicycle - II. The Berlin killer Krasikov served in the FSB special forces "Vympel"]. The Insider (in Russian). December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "Bellingcat: Russia continued Novichok program despite claiming to end it". Deutsche Welle. October 23, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "Назови мое имя. Кто и как производит в России "Новичок" для спецслужб" [Say my name. Who and how produces "Novichok" for special services in Russia]. The Insider (in Russian). October 23, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  29. ^ Batyrov, Timur (October 23, 2020). "Журналисты-расследователи сообщили о возможном применении нанокапсул с ядом для отравления Навального" [Investigative journalists reported on the possible use of nanocapsules with poison to poison Navalny]. Forbes (in Russian). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  30. ^ Begiashvili, Anya (October 23, 2020). "The Insider и Bellingcat: хотя Россия отчиталась об уничтожении химоружия, в ряде институтов ещё производят "Новичок"" [The Insider and Bellingcat: although Russia has reported on the destruction of chemical weapons, a number of institutes are still producing Novichok]. Tjournal [ru] (in Russian). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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  36. ^ "Навального отравили "Новичком" сотрудники спецгруппы ФСБ. Названы их имена и псевдонимы" [Navalny was poisoned by "Novichok" by officers of the FSB special group. Their names and aliases were revealed]. Meduza. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  37. ^ "Лаборатория. Как сотрудники НИИ-2 ФСБ пытались отравить Алексея Навального" [Laboratory. How FSB NII-2 employees tried to poison Alexei Navalny]. The Insider (in Russian). December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
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  43. ^ "The Insider, Bellingcat и BBC назвали российского генерала ключевым фигурантом дела о крушении MH17" [The Insider, Bellingcat and the BBC have named the Russian general as a key figure in the MH17 crash case]. Kommersant (in Russian). April 28, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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  45. ^ "Переходит все границы. Ключевым фигурантом дела о сбитом "Боинге" оказался замглавы Погранслужбы ФСБ генерал Бурлака" [Goes beyond all boundaries. The key person involved in the case of the downed Boeing was the deputy head of the FSB Border Service, General Burlaka]. The Insider (in Russian). April 28, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  46. ^ Филимонов, Александр (April 28, 2020). "The Insider и Bellingcat назвали ключевого фигуранта дела о крушении MH17 — это замглавы пограничной службы ФСБ генерал Андрей Бурлака" [The Insider and Bellingcat have named the key person involved in the MH17 crash - the deputy head of the FSB border service, General Andrei Burlaka]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  47. ^ "Говорит и показывает ГРУ. Как Минобороны распространяет фейки через иностранных "журналистов"" [Speaks and shows GRU. How the Ministry of Defence spreads fakes through foreign "journalists"]. The Insider (in Russian). November 12, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
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  58. ^ Merkureva, Karina (November 10, 2017). "Российское издание The Insider получило премию Совета Европы" [The Russian newspaper The Insider received the Council of Europe Prize]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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  63. ^ Arosev, Grigory (August 19, 2019). "СМИ из РФ, Украины и Армении отмечены премией за свободу прессы" [Media from the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Armenia were awarded with the Free Media Award]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). Retrieved December 10, 2020.
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External links