Dmitry Muratov: Here’s what I think. This is an absolutely accurate idea, and I would like to build on it. You see, the UN Secretary General is talking about censorship. 

What is censorship? It is a manifestation of distrust to your own people. Those who introduce censorship do not trust their people. In different countries of the world, many individuals who, of course, consider themselves independent, simply do not believe their people. 

They think that they are the ones to determine what the people should read, watch, see and listen to. Such lack of trust to the people is the most dangerous thing. People must be trusted. 

UN News: What would you like to tell our listeners about your newspaper? How do you survive these days? 

Dmitry Muratov: Well, first of all, thanks to the people we have. We have absolutely amazing staff -- these are the stars of Soviet and Russian journalism as well as people who will become the stars of modern journalism. Some write essays, others, for example, do big data research. 

The combination of both, the synergy that in our editorial office, people who write brilliant texts, and those who do coding and programming, who dig for impossible information, is for me the recipe for our outstanding success. 

I really love this “angry crew of kind people”. 

UN News: What do you know about Maria Ressa? Have you met? 

Dmitry Muratov: I know a lot about her! She is an outstanding journalist. The first issue of the newspaper published after we learnt about the prize had an image of Maria Ressa on the front page, not our faces. 

We have the highest regard for her. In the past, several members of our staff took her training courses. Today we sent her a letter. We really want to invite the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to give a lecture to the Novaya Gazeta staff and the students who will join. 

She is an outstanding woman who single-handedly confronts tyranny. 

[Maria Ressa] is an outstanding woman who single-handedly confronts tyranny. 

UN News: So you approve of the choice by the Nobel Committee? 

Dmitry Muratov: I'm delighted. Naturally, I am also delighted that Novaya Gazeta was given the award, it is true, but I think that Maria Ressa is a brilliant choice. 

I don't know how it happened, how it all happened. We will only find out about this in fifty years [when the Nobel Committee discloses all the information behind the nomination and selection process].  

I won’t live that long to see it, though. But the fact that my name is mentioned next to hers is just fascinating! 

UN News: Do you know how the award ceremony will be held? 

Dmitry Muratov: I received a letter this morning saying that the ceremony will be held in Oslo. But let me wrap up our conversation by saying that we would be happy to greet Maria, in our office in Moscow.