Russia: Man Assaults Al-Jazeera’s Ranya Dridi During Live Broadcast
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns this vicious assault on a journalist doing her job
Location: Russia, Saint Petersburg
Date: August 24, 2023
Al Jazeera’s Moscow correspondent Ranya Dridi sustains concussion after being struck by a man during a live report in front of Wagner's headquarters in Saint Petersburg. The attacker allegedly targeted her for not speaking Russian. The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses growing concern over the hostile environment created by the Russian state towards foreign journalists. We demand the prosecution of the perpetrator and condemnation of his actions by the Kremlin. Journalists must be able to report without fear of assault.
On August 24, Ranya Dridi, a Palestinian journalist working for Al-Jazeera Arabic, was struck by a man during a live broadcast outside the former headquarters of the mercenary group Wagner in Saint Petersburg. The assailant demanded the journalist, who works for an Arabic language channel, speak Russian before attacking her. Dridi was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion. She has chosen not to comment on the incident.
A week after the incident, Russian authorities arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with the assault. The suspect, an employee of a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, was apprehended in Petrozavodsk, approximately 300 kilometers northeast of Saint Petersburg. According to Russian news site Fontanka, a criminal investigation has been initiated, and the suspect has been placed in a temporary detention center.
The incident raises concerns about journalists' safety and protection in Russia and exile. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on the media, aiming to silence those who report truthfully on the war.
In February 2023, a Russian court sentenced Siberian journalist Maria Ponomarenko to six years in prison for a social media post about civilian deaths in Mariupol. Independent Russian journalists living abroad have been targeted with poisonings, while family members of exiled journalists have also suffered harassment.
Russia's oppressive media environment is becoming increasingly apparent, with many independent Russian journalists forced to flee or close their news outlets to avoid persecution.
Recently, Putin's regime has turned its attention to intimidating foreign correspondents based in Russia. The arrest of Wall Street Journal's Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges in March 2023 - which he denies - has shocked remaining American and foreign journalists, leaving them concerned about the future of reporting in the country. Veteran Russian correspondents, including POLITICO's Eva Hartog and journalist Anna-Lena Laurén, have also lost their work visas and were compelled to leave the country.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the attack on Ranya Dridi. The nationalist and xenophobic frenzy perpetuated by the Kremlin and its propaganda outlets has encouraged citizens’ justification to attack foreign reporters who do not speak Russian. Violent rhetoric paves the way for violent actions, and the Kremlin must unequivocally condemn this assault to prevent such attacks from becoming more frequent and even more alarming.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.