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iStories

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iStories
Type of site
Investigative journalism
Available in2 languages
List of languages
Russian
English
Country of originRussia
Founder(s)Roman Anin
Olesya Shmagun
EditorRoman Anin
Employees15 (as of 2021)[1]
URLOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
CommercialNo
RegistrationNone
LaunchedApril 2020; 4 years ago (2020-04)
Current statusActive

iStories or Important Stories (Russian: Важные истории, romanized: Vazhnyye Istorii)[a][3] is an independent Russian website specialising in investigative journalism.[4] The website was founded in 2020 by Russian journalists Roman Anin and Olesya Shmagun.[5] IStories published a number of high-profile investigations. The office of the website is located in Latvia.

History

[edit]

IStories (the "I" stands for "important")[4] was launched at the end of April 2020. Its founders are Russian journalists Roman Anin and Olesya Shmagun. Anin, Shmagun and several other journalists in their team had previously worked for Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper. 4 out of 10 journalists at IStories were taking part in investigation of the Panama Papers.[6][7][2] IStories was created in response to the growing pressure from the Russian government on the media.[2]

IStories published its first two investigations with the participation of Novaya Gazeta.[6] It investigated the illegal supply of low quality ventilators[8][9] and COVID-19 tests,[10] the production of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, domestic violence in Russia,[2] the Russian waste management market,[10] Vladimir Putin's daughter Katerina Tikhonova and her husband Kirill Shamalov,[11][12][13] persecution of the Russian politician Alexei Navalny,[10] oil spill disasters in Russia[14] and others topics. In November 2020, the Global Investigative Journalism Network wrote that IStories had 13 staff.[10]

Journalists of IStories were also taking part in investigations of the FinCEN Files[8] and the Pandora Papers.[3][15]

In 2021, IStories had 15 staff.[1] In February 2021, it published an article that talked about how Rosneft, a Russian oil company, bought part of the Pirelli company. After a complaint from Rosneft, the court ordered the website to remove the article.[16][17] In March 2021, the media outlet published an investigation into the Russian Federal Security Service's (FSB) deputy director Sergey Korolev [ru] and his links to Russian criminals.[18][19] In April 2021, the FSB raided IStories offices and the apartment of its editor-in-chief, Roman Anin. The raid was formally connected to a 2016 criminal case for violation of privacy.[b] After the raid, Anin was taken to the Investigative Committee of Russia.[19][20][17] In July 2021, the Russian activist Alexander Ionov demanded the Russian government to designate IStories as a "foreign agent".[17] On 20 August 2021, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated the legal entity of IStories, IStories fonds, and its journalists Anin, Shmagun, Alesya Marokhovskaya [ru], Roman Shleynov (Роман Шлейнов), Irina Dolinina [ru], Dmitry Velikovsky (Дмитрий Великовский) as "foreign agents".[21][22] In 2021, IStories closed its operations in Russia.[23]

In early March 2022, Roskomnadzor, a Russian government agency, blocked access to the websites of independent Russian media outlets Dozhd, Echo of Moscow and others for their coverage of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 3 March 2022, IStories published a letter, explaining how to bypass the blocking by the Russian authorities.[24] On 5 March 2022, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation designated IStories as an "undesirable organisation".[25] This designation prohibits the activities of the organisation on the territory of Russia and prescribes sanctions for anyone who supports the organisation.[26] On 11 March 2022, Roskomnadzor blocked access to the website for what it says are "falsehoods [on topics] of substantial public interest" about the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[27][28]

In November 2023, IStories joined with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Paper Trail Media [de] and 69 media partners including Distributed Denial of Secrets and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and more than 270 journalists in 55 countries and territories[29][30] to produce the 'Cyprus Confidential' report on the financial network which supports the regime of Vladimir Putin, mostly with connections to Cyprus, and showed Cyprus to have strong links with high-up figures in the Kremlin, some of whom have been sanctioned.[31][32] Government officials including Cyprus president Nikos Christodoulides[33] and European lawmakers[34] began responding to the investigation's findings in less than 24 hours,[33] calling for reforms and launching probes.[35][36]

On 17 June 2024, a Moscow court issued arrest warrants for IStories editor-in-chief and award-winning investigative reporter Roman Anin and Ekaterina Fomina [ru], a journalist at TV Rain and a former IStories correspondent, on charges of disseminating "false information" about Russia's armed forces in Ukraine. Russia's Interior Ministry added two Russian journalists in exile to its wanted list.[37] In the spring of 2022, Fomina published an investigative report regarding war crimes in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[38] Fomina said the arrest warrant would affect her professional life as she would not be able to travel to many countries that could arrest her and extradite her to Russia.[37] IStories wrote in response that "The Russian authorities call ‘fake’ any information that does not fit in with their propaganda campaign or does not correspond to the official position of the Kremlin."[39]

Organisation

[edit]

IStories is a non-profit organisation.[1] It is operated by a board of directors.[5] The organisation modelled on ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism organisation.[2] As of March 2022, most of IStories' journalists are based outside of Russia.[4]

The outlet focuses on collaboration with international and regional media.[8] According to Anin, the website's goal is to "tell you about the real heroes who have changed the world around us for the better - whether it be a village, district or city - in spite of corruption and the arbitrariness of the state."[40] In addition to investigations, IStories produces text and video tutorials for journalists.[2][41][42]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ or Vazhnie Istorii[2]
  2. ^ The case was opened in 2016, after Anin published an article about a $100 million yacht belonging to the then-wife of Igor Sechin, the CEO of Rosneft, a Russian state-controlled oil company
  1. ^ a b c Smith, Ben (21 February 2021). "How Investigative Journalism Flourished in Hostile Russia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Amos, Howard (13 May 2020). "Unite or disappear: Russian media startup 'istories' wants journalists to join forces — before it's too late". The Calvert Journal. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Pandora Papers: How leak is being reported around the world". BBC News. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Koslerova, Anna (16 March 2022). "'Our Job Is to Save History': Russian Journalist on Exposing Putin's Lies". Vice.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Журналисты-расследователи запустили медиа "Важные истории"" [Investigative journalists launched the Important Stories media]. Wonderzine.com (in Russian). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Журналисты-расследователи запустили медиа "Важные истории". Его авторы — выходцы из "Новой газеты"" [Investigative journalists launched the Important Stories media. Its authors come from Novaya Gazeta]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Как российские журналисты создают новые независимые проекты" [How Russian journalists create new independent projects]. radioportal.ru (in Russian). 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Maas, David (5 October 2020). "Investigative journalist Roman Anin shines a light on corruption in Russia". International Center for Journalists. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  9. ^ Селиванова, Екатерина (30 April 2020). "«Важные истории»: больше всего аппаратов ИВЛ в 2019 году поставили фирмы-посредники, зарегистрированные на подставных лиц" [Important stories: most of the ventilators in 2019 were supplied by intermediary firms registered under figureheads]. Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (in Russian). Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Holmey, Olivier (4 November 2020). "My Favorite Tools with Russia's Roman Anin". Global Investigative Journalism Network. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  11. ^ Roth, Andrew (8 December 2020). "Putin's former son-in-law bought shares worth $380m for $100, report says". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Russian Businessman Received Flood Of Billion-Dollar Deals After Marrying 'Putin's Daughter,' Report Shows". Current Time TV. Radio Free Europe. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  13. ^ ""Важные истории": "Владимир Путин оклеветал журналистов, комментируя наше расследование"" [Important Stories: "Vladimir Putin slandered journalists by commenting on our investigation"]. Znak.com. krimchel.ru. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Журнал "Важные истории" выпустил исследование о нефтеразливах в России". Strelka Mag (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  15. ^ Hart, Eilish (4 October 2021). "Inside the 'Pandora Papers'". Meduza. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Rosneft wins lawsuit against IStories for 'Pirelli' article". Meduza. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  17. ^ a b c Korelina, Olga. "'This was bound to happen' Russia designates Dozhd and iStories as 'foreign agents'". Meduza. Translation by Eilish Hart. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  18. ^ "iStories: Top Russian FSB Official Has Multiple Underworld Ties". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  19. ^ a b "'Dark Day' For Press Freedom As FSB Agents Raid Russian Journalist's Home". Radio Free Europe. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  20. ^ "FSB agents search the home of 'iStories' chief editor Roman Anin". Meduza. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Russia Labels Broadcaster Dozhd, Investigative Site iStories 'Foreign Agents'". The Moscow Times. Agence France-Presse. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  22. ^ Shiel, Fergus; Cosic, Jelena (20 August 2021). "Russia brands IStories a 'foreign agent' in independent media crackdown - ICIJ". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  23. ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". CNN. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  24. ^ Cooper, Ann (4 March 2022). "Russia's silencing of Ekho Moskvy forces a sad end on a brave broadcaster". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  25. ^ Allsop, Jon (7 March 2022). "The Putin regime obliterates press freedom". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Moscow Declares OCCRP and iStories "Undesirable" in Russia". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Russia: Authorities block Amnesty International's Russian-language website". Amnesty International. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Golos, Amnesty International, istories, Colta websites blocked for Ukraine fakes - Roskomnadzor". Interfax. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Inside Cyprus Confidential: The data-driven journalism that helped expose an island under Russian influence - ICIJ". 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  30. ^ "About the Cyprus Confidential investigation - ICIJ". 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Cyprus Confidential: Leaked Roman Abramovich documents raise fresh questions for Chelsea FC: ICIJ-led investigation reveals how Mediterranean island ignores Russian atrocities and western sanctions to cash in on Putin's oligarchs". The Irish Times. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Cyprus Confidential - ICIJ". www.icij.org. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  33. ^ a b "Cypriot president pledges government probe into Cyprus Confidential revelations - ICIJ". 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  34. ^ "Lawmakers call for EU crackdown after ICIJ's Cyprus Confidential revelations - ICIJ". 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  35. ^ "Cyprus ignores Russian atrocities, Western sanctions to shield vast wealth of Putin allies - ICIJ". 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  36. ^ Solutions, BDigital Web. "Finance Minister perturbed over 'Cyprus Confidential'". knews.com.cy. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Russia issues arrest warrants for exiled journalists over war coverage". VOA News. 3 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Russia Issues Warrants For 2 Investigative Journalists In Exile". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 17 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Russian Authorities 'Arrest in Absentia' ICFJ Award Winner Roman Anin and Journalist Ekaterina Fomina". International Center for Journalists. 24 June 2024.
  40. ^ "Roman Anin". International Center for Journalists. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  41. ^ ""Важные истории" запустили курс по программированию на Python для журналистов" [Important Stories launched a Python programming course for journalists]. jrnlst.ru (in Russian). 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  42. ^ Королева, Ольга (9 November 2020). "Бесплатные курсы программирования для журналистов от портала "Важные истории"" [Free programming courses for journalists from the Important Stories portal]. newreporter.org (in Russian). Retrieved 3 April 2022.
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