Yelena Masyuk
Encyclopedia
Yelena Vasiliyevna Masyuk (born January 24, 1966) is a Russian television journalist known for her coverage of the First
and Second Chechen War
s and her high-profile 1997 abduction.
with a degree in journalism. In 1994, she began working for the then-independent television station NTV, covering the First Chechen War
. She later stated that in her reporting, she tried "to show the Chechen side of the story, to give them a chance to tell their point of view, to show how terrible the war was for civilians and even Russian soldiers". The coverage earned her and NTV Russia's top television awards.
Masyuk went on from Chechnya to report in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. According to The Washington Post
, "her name became synonymous with hot-spot journalism", and her crew became known as "the bravest, brashest and most professional reporters on the scene". She was also noted for the quality of her contacts within Chechnya.
In 2004, Masyuk created a four-part documentary entitled The Character of Friendship, exploring potential dangers in the Sino-Russian relationship
. Despite orders from many local governments that it not be allowed to air, the documentary was shown widely across Russia.
immediately after the Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis
, in which Basayev succeeded in taking over 1,000 civilian hostages. The attorney general's office formally investigated Masyuk under Article 189 of the Criminal Code (harboring a criminal) and Article 190 (failure to report a crime), but the case was dropped after the attorney general was forced to resign for unrelated corruption charges.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky
, founder of the strongly nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
, accused Masyuk in 1996 of being on the payroll of Chechen separatists. Masyuk took Zhirinovsky to court for slander, and in December 1997, the court ordered him to publicly apologize and to pay Masyuk $5,000 in damages.
In 1998, Masyuk was declared persona non grata
by the Foreign Ministry of Tajikistan after broadcasting reports critical of the nation's government.
. On 10 May, Masyuk, cameraman Ilya Mordyukov, and sound engineer Dmitri Ulchev were returning from Grozny to Ingushetia
when six masked, armed men stopped their car. The three journalists were then forced into another vehicle at gunpoint and driven from the scene.
They would be held for 101 days, the final two months of which were spent in a forest cave. During this time, Amnesty International
announced a campaign for her release, as did The Committee to Protect Journalists. On 18 August, NTV paid a $2 million ransom, and the three were released.
Masyuk later commented that she felt the kidnappings had been tactically foolish by the rebels in terms of public image: "Chechens made $16 million on journalists last year, but they lost much more...They lost the journalists' confidence that they had had during the war." She added that the result was "an information blockade" surrounding the region.
media fellow in 1995, teaching at the DeWitt Wallace
Center for Communications and Journalism. Following her release from captivity in 1997, she also won the International Press Freedom Award
of the Committee to Protect Journalists
.
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
and Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
s and her high-profile 1997 abduction.
Journalism
Masyuk graduated from Moscow State UniversityMoscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
with a degree in journalism. In 1994, she began working for the then-independent television station NTV, covering the First Chechen War
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
. She later stated that in her reporting, she tried "to show the Chechen side of the story, to give them a chance to tell their point of view, to show how terrible the war was for civilians and even Russian soldiers". The coverage earned her and NTV Russia's top television awards.
Masyuk went on from Chechnya to report in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. According to The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, "her name became synonymous with hot-spot journalism", and her crew became known as "the bravest, brashest and most professional reporters on the scene". She was also noted for the quality of her contacts within Chechnya.
In 2004, Masyuk created a four-part documentary entitled The Character of Friendship, exploring potential dangers in the Sino-Russian relationship
Sino-Russian relations since 1991
Diplomatic relations between People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation dramatically improved after the fall of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the Russia in 1991...
. Despite orders from many local governments that it not be allowed to air, the documentary was shown widely across Russia.
Legal issues
After the first of Masyuk's reports showing the violence in Chechnya, Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets attempted to revoke NTV's license to broadcast in retaliation. Masyuk was threatened directly with prosecution following an interview with Chechen field commander Shamil BasayevShamil Basayev
Shamil Salmanovich Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and a leader of the Chechen rebel movement.Starting as a field commander in the Transcaucasus, Basayev led guerrilla campaigns against the Russian troops for years, as well as launching mass-hostage takings of civilians, with his goal...
immediately after the Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis
Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis
The Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis took place from 14 June to 19 June 1995, when a group of 80 to 200 Chechen terrorists led by Shamil Basayev attacked the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk , some north of the border with the Russian republic of Chechnya...
, in which Basayev succeeded in taking over 1,000 civilian hostages. The attorney general's office formally investigated Masyuk under Article 189 of the Criminal Code (harboring a criminal) and Article 190 (failure to report a crime), but the case was dropped after the attorney general was forced to resign for unrelated corruption charges.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky
Vladimir Zhirinovsky
Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky is a Russian politician, colonel of the Russian Army, founder and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , Vice-Chairman of the State Duma, and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe....
, founder of the strongly nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia
The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , Liberal'no-Demokraticheskaya Partiya Rossii is a political party in Russia. Since its founding in 1991, it has been led by the charismatic and controversial figure Vladimir Zhirinovsky...
, accused Masyuk in 1996 of being on the payroll of Chechen separatists. Masyuk took Zhirinovsky to court for slander, and in December 1997, the court ordered him to publicly apologize and to pay Masyuk $5,000 in damages.
In 1998, Masyuk was declared persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
by the Foreign Ministry of Tajikistan after broadcasting reports critical of the nation's government.
Abduction
In early 1997, Masyuk had been pulled from a Chechen assignment due to threats against her. However, she persuaded her editor to allow her to cover a rally in the Chechen capital of Grozny and conduct an interview with rebel commander Salman RaduyevSalman Raduyev
Salman Raduyev was a Chechen separatist warlord considered to be one of the most radical and notorious Chechen rebel commanders of the period between 1994 and 1999...
. On 10 May, Masyuk, cameraman Ilya Mordyukov, and sound engineer Dmitri Ulchev were returning from Grozny to Ingushetia
Ingushetia
The Republic of Ingushetia is a federal subject of Russia , located in the North Caucasus region with its capital at Magas. In terms of area, the republic is the smallest of Russia's federal subjects except for the two federal cities, Moscow and Saint Petersburg...
when six masked, armed men stopped their car. The three journalists were then forced into another vehicle at gunpoint and driven from the scene.
They would be held for 101 days, the final two months of which were spent in a forest cave. During this time, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
announced a campaign for her release, as did The Committee to Protect Journalists. On 18 August, NTV paid a $2 million ransom, and the three were released.
Masyuk later commented that she felt the kidnappings had been tactically foolish by the rebels in terms of public image: "Chechens made $16 million on journalists last year, but they lost much more...They lost the journalists' confidence that they had had during the war." She added that the result was "an information blockade" surrounding the region.
Awards and recognition
Masyuk was named a Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
media fellow in 1995, teaching at the DeWitt Wallace
DeWitt Wallace
DeWitt Wallace , also known as William Roy was a United States magazine publisher. He co-founded Reader's Digest with his wife Lila Wallace and published the first issue in 1922.Born in St...
Center for Communications and Journalism. Following her release from captivity in 1997, she also won the International Press Freedom Award
CPJ International Press Freedom Awards
The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards honour journalists around the world who show courage in defending press freedom in the face of attacks, threats or imprisonment. Created in 1991, the awards are administered by the Committee to Protect Journalists....
of the Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
.