Distance No Guarantee of Safety for Russia’s Exiled Journalists

After surviving a suspected poisoning attack in 2022, exiled Russian journalist Irina Babloyan has found solace in continuing to do her job. (Vasily Aleksandrov) Katerina Abramova heads communications at the exiled outlet Meduza. She spoke with VOA, accompanied by her dog, on a cold February morning at a Berlin park. (Liam Scott/VOA) Exiled Russian journalist Ekaterina Fomina and her rescue dog, Cooper, have lived in three countries and seven apartments since Fomina fled her home country shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (Liam Scott/VOA)

It was supposed to be a relaxing dinner with friends in Tbilisi, Georgia, before a move to Berlin. But things didn’t turn out as planned for Irina Babloyan.