maria georgieva
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mariageorgieva.bsky.social
maria georgieva
@mariageorgieva.bsky.social
award-winning investigative journalist and documentarist. Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. IRE, European Impact Award finalist ‘24. Rory Peck Award finalist ‘25.

https://linktr.ee/maria_georgieva

mariageorgieva@protonmail.com
people chanted ”no to war”
at #Monetochka’s concert in #Sweden tonight:
November 16, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Om konserten innan gatumusikanterna i trion Stoptime greps, de sjöng bl.a. Monetochkas låt ”Du är en soldat”, ”Ты солдат”

youtube.com/shorts/n8FRd...
Группа «Стоптайм» — они поют песни «иноагентов» на улицах Санкт-Петербурга
YouTube video by Dmitry Kolezev
youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Hennes hit ”Это было в России” (Det var i Ryssland) kapslar in saknaden av ett land som inte längre existerar: youtu.be/_otogxga6ww?...
Монеточка - Это было в России (Official music video 2024)
YouTube video by Монеточка
youtu.be
November 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
– The songs are ‘our secret code, she says. When criticism becomes punishable, music turns into encrypted communication.

mariageorgieva.substack.com/p/monetochka...
Monetochka in Exile: Music is 'a secret code' for Russians when open criticism is criminalized
In an exclusive interview the Russian pop phenomenon Monetochka, "The Little Coin," reflects on her life in exile, the atmosphere around protest music under Russia's shadow. For Dagens Nyheter.
mariageorgieva.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
– Whatever I say is immediately published everywhere. In these unfree conditions, people still try to manifest and reveal their talent. Talking about freedom, about love, in another language inspires me a lot.

mariageorgieva.substack.com/p/monetochka...
Monetochka in Exile: Music is 'a secret code' for Russians when open criticism is criminalized
In an exclusive interview the Russian pop phenomenon Monetochka, "The Little Coin," reflects on her life in exile, the atmosphere around protest music under Russia's shadow. For Dagens Nyheter.
mariageorgieva.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
I spoke with the artist, who is being closely monitored by the Russian authorities, even in exile.

An English version of my interview with Monetochka. The interview was made in Russian, published in Swedish and translated into English: mariageorgieva.substack.com/p/monetochka...
November 15, 2025 at 11:47 AM
– Vad jag än säger publiceras det omedelbart överallt. I dessa ofria förhållanden försöker folk ändå manifestera sig och avslöja sin talang. Att tala om frihet, om kärlek, med ett annat språk inspirerar mig mycket.

www.dn.se/kultur/ryska...
Ryska popfenomenet klassas som agent: "Vad jag än säger publiceras det överallt"
Unga musiker grips i Ryssland för att de spelar hennes låtar på gatorna. 16 november spelar Monetochka i Stockholm.
www.dn.se
November 15, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Låtarna är ”vår hemliga kod”, säger hon. När kritik är straffbart blir musiken en krypterad kommunikation.
November 15, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Har velat ställa denna fråga länge:

Hur kan man uttrycka stöd för ryska musiker som framfört protestsånger?

Läs min intervju med Monetochka: www.dn.se/kultur/ryska...
Ryska popfenomenet klassas som agent: "Vad jag än säger publiceras det överallt"
Unga musiker grips i Ryssland för att de spelar hennes låtar på gatorna. 16 november spelar Monetochka i Stockholm.
www.dn.se
November 15, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Kostyuchenko's experiences also include being targeted for her work, having to leave Ukraine after being put on a Russian military kill list, and surviving a suspected poisoning in Germany.
November 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Despite the risks, exiled Russian journalists maintain contact with sources inside the country through encrypted communication and VPNs, though these tools themselves are increasingly restricted in Russia.
November 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
She describes journalism in Russia as effectively criminalized, with many colleagues forced into exile to continue working. These journalists, inc Kostyuchenko herself, face constant bureaucratic & political challenges from the Russian government, but strive to keep independent media voices alive
November 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Kostyuchenko highlights that having a multi-entry visa is crucial for those who need to travel frequently, and the new restrictions are viewed by Russian authorities as marks of suspicion and disloyalty, putting them on lists of "internal enemies."
November 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
This policy change, driven by security concerns related to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, complicates travel for many, especially independent journalists, human rights defenders, and activists trying to continue their work safely from abroad.
November 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
"#Lukoil may now focus on finding buyers for assets under sanctions — specifically those where it holds a stake of 50% or more, primarily refineries in #Bulgaria and #Romania, and oil projects in Iraq". www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
The Moscow-headquartered company is under pressure to sell its foreign assets by November 21, a deadline imposed by the U.S. Treasury for companies to wind down their business transactions with Lukoil.
November 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM