Journalist Maria Baronova made headlines last week when she elected to resign as editor-in-chief of Russia Today, a state-run media operation after condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Baronova spoke with Fox News Digital, where she understands the dangers of speaking out against the Kremlin. However, she stated that personal safety is the least of her concerns.
“The problem is, I know these people very well. They never send threats; they just kill, so there is kind of [a] weird silence around me, but I really think we’re on the brink of a nuclear war right now. I’m not exaggerating,” Baronova said.
“I have a son, I can’t leave because his father won’t allow me to leave with him, and so I just prefer to stay in Moscow … It seems like we’re either in North Korea or we are going to be killed by a thermonuclear mushroom. I wouldn’t quit, and I wouldn’t lose my salary and job if I was sure that we are going to be alive for many years, but I really don’t know what is going to happen to all of us next.”
As the war against Ukraine rages on, many Western allies are weary that Putin will resort to nuclear weapons. Nonetheless, Baronova is more anxious the president’s behavior will make Russia the target of a destructive attack.
“I suspect the Western world will use it,” Baronova said. “This is a very dangerous situation.”
She finally stated that the last straw resulting in her resignation came from a message by her colleague who wrote an Instagram message saying, “if you are now ashamed of being Russian, don’t worry, you are not Russian.”
“I was really disturbed by that tone and level of support,” Baronova said. “If I chose to be with Russia, this does not mean that I should walk in a totalitarian system, be silent or, for example, rejoice that the regime, which I do not want for my country, is being exported somewhere else.”
“And this regime will finally turn our life into one endless hell. What’s there. Already turned.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
