Irina Vyacheslavovna Slavina (born Kolebanova, married name Murakhtayeva; January 8, 1973, Gorky — October 2, 2020, Nizhny Novgorod) was a Nizhny Novgorod journalist and public figure. She founded and led the online publication "Koza.Press" — one of Nizhny Novgorod's independent media outlets.[2] She died on October 2, 2020, after setting herself on fire in front of the building of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1]
Journalistic Career
Slavina conceived the idea of founding her own online publication in 2015, after losing her job for the third time. In her own words, the dismissals were connected to her "sticking her nose in too far." She envisioned the project as a vehicle for professional freedom; subsequently, "Koza.Press" was taken to court more than five times.[1] Slavina was the publication's founder, sole permanent journalist, and editor-in-chief.[1][2]
During the last two years of her life, Slavina was repeatedly subjected to administrative penalties. The first fine — under a provision on disrespecting authority — was imposed for a Facebook post in which she altered the name of the city of Shakhunya so that its root became an obscene word. The second fine was for participating in a memorial event for politician Nemtsov. In the summer of 2020, a report was drawn up against Slavina for spreading false information: the pretext was an article reporting that the head of the sambo academy in Kstovo had contracted coronavirus and subsequently had contact with other people; the journalist was ultimately fined 65,000 rubles.[1][2] To pay the fines, Slavina knitted warm clothing for sale and made homemade cheese.[1]
Public Activity
In June 2016, Slavina, together with Kayumov Askhat Abdurakhmanovich and Andrey Khomov, headed the list of the Yabloko party in elections to the Regional Legislative Assembly.[1] Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin publicly noted that he had been in contact with Slavina from the beginning of his tenure in the region and had received from her an official commendation.[3]
Death
On October 1, 2020, Slavina's apartment was searched as part of a case concerning participation in the activities of an organization deemed undesirable in Russia — a case brought against Nizhny Novgorod activist Mikhail Iosilevich. The search was conducted by around twelve people: officers from the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, police, the SOBR special unit, and witnesses. During the search, all electronic equipment was seized, including a phone that had been purchased for her daughter.[1][4]
On October 2, 2020, Slavina published a message on Facebook: "For my death, I ask that the Russian Federation be held responsible."[2] At 3:30 p.m., the local emergency services received a report of a fire on Gorky Street; by the time rescuers arrived, Slavina was dead. The act of self-immolation took place in front of the building of the Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for Nizhny Novgorod Region — opposite the Gorkovskaya metro station.[1]
On October 3, 2020, Slavina's children — Margarita and Vyacheslav Murakhtayev — staged a solo picket in the center of Nizhny Novgorod holding a sign reading "While my mother was burning alive, you were silent."[3] Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin stated that he would make efforts to ensure the investigation into the circumstances of her death was overseen "at the highest level."[2][3] In November 2020, the Investigative Committee declined to open a case into driving the journalist to suicide, ruling that the search had been "correct."[2]
Legacy
At the site of Slavina's death near the Main Directorate building, a spontaneous memorial appears weekly; those who come to lay flowers have been detained by police on multiple occasions.[4] Spontaneous memorials have also appeared at the sculpture of a goat on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, whose name echoes that of the publication "Koza.Press."[3][4] On the fifth anniversary of her death, October 2, 2025, the area near the Main Directorate building was cordoned off with temporary fencing and warning tape; a police vehicle was stationed nearby.[4]
The fates of Slavina's children have taken different paths: her daughter Margarita Murakhtayeva was fined in 2022 for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces, while her son Vyacheslav Murakhtayev voluntarily enlisted for military service, leaving behind his wife and two children, the younger of whom was a newborn. The son subsequently appealed to Governor Gleb Nikitin asking him to protect his family.[4]
Links
- Wikidata (archive) (Q99851286 — entry in the free knowledge base)
- VIAF (111160546940410240004 — union library index)
Sources
- Novaya Gazeta — "While she was burning, everyone was silent." The death of Koza.Press editor Irina Slavina — the most tragic outcome of the authorities' relentless pressure on regional journalists (archive)
- Kommersant (Volga Region) (archive)
- BBC News Russian Service — The death of Irina Slavina: how colleagues, activists, and authorities are responding (archive)
- V Gorode N — The site of journalist Irina Slavina's death has been cordoned off in Nizhny Novgorod (archive)