Dmitry Muratov who was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize decided to sell his Nobel Peace Prize medal at auction. The medal was sold for $103.5 million (134.1 billion won), and Dmitry donated the entire amount to a charity for Ukrainian refugees. Even at this moment, many people are suffering from the Russia-Ukraine war which has lasted for over one year at this point. Ukrainian refugees are displaced in large numbers, and innocent civilian casualties continue to occur. In his Nobel Prize speech, Muratov claimed: “We(journalists) are the prerequisite for progress. We are the antidote against tyranny.” Thus, he is still bringing his comments to a conclusion. Despite the Russian government’s oppression of the media, he has remained firm in his Moscow headquarters editorial office and continues to criticize the Russian government that leads the war. Dmitry Muratov is working to expose the dark side of society against injustice even under life-threatening oppression. The message of peace he launched is resonating with people all over the world. 
       Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov was born on October 29th, 1961, in Samara, Russia. He studied philology at Kuibyshev (currently Samara) State University and discovered his interest in journalism. As an undergraduate student, he made contact with a local newspaper and held a part-time job to be engaged in journalism in the future. After graduating from university, he served in the Soviet Army as a communication equipment security specialist for 3 years. Since then, from 1987 until leaving the Volzhsky Komsomolets newspaper in 1992, he worked as a correspondent and was also appointed editor-in-chief of news articles. In 1993, Muratov teamed up with about 50 colleagues and began publishing the New Daily Newspaper (Novaya Ezchednevnaya Gazeta), which reported on the political corruption and war crimes in Chechnya. Novaya Gazeta had a rough 1990s. The publishing company had no money to pay salaries, and all proceeds were invested in publishing the newspapers themselves. Nevertheless, under Muratov as editor, Novaya Gazeta continued its in-depth investigation into corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of Russian government and became famous. Therefore, they were often targets of repression and terrorism. 
       In 2007 he was awarded the International Press Freedom Awards from the Committee to Protect Journalists. In 2010, he was awarded the Legion of Honor, France’s highest civil award, for his dedication to press freedom, and in 2016, he was awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom Awards by the World Association of Newspapers. Finally, in 2021, Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work defending freedom of expression. The Nobel Committee acknowledged the contributions of Muratov and Novaya Gazeta, stating that “The newspaper’s fact-based journalism and professional integrity have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media.” In particular, they gave special praise to various critical articles published by Novaya Gazeta: “corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, electoralfraud and ‘troll factories’ used by Russian military forces.” 
       In March 2022, Muratov sold his Nobel Peace Prize medal at auction in order to donate to help Ukrainian refugees. He not only asked the world for help, but also became an example saying, “It has to become the beginning of a flash mob or as an example to follow, so people auction their valuable possessions to help Ukrainian refugees.” Muratov said “The most important message today is for people to understand that there is a war going on and we need to help people who are suffering the most.” Even under the oppression of the media, Muratov is trying to achieve democracy against the corrupted government, by carrying a special article titled “Russia Is Bombing Ukraine.” During Muratov’s time at the Novaya Gazeta, six of its journalists have been killed. Muratov was also attacked on a train from Moscow to Samara, by an unknown person and covered with red paint in April 2022, for publishing a report criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, he did not stop covering and reporting for freedom of the press. 
Despite the censorship and oppression of the authoritarian Russian government, Muratov has been faithful to the principles of journalism. He persistently covered and reported on stories that are bound to provoke the government, such as corrupt regimes, violent police, illegal arrests and fraudulent elections, and human rights violations. Muratov is still under check by the current Russian government. In the process, he has received countless death threats. However, Muratov says, "As long as I remain editor-in-chief, Novaya Gazeta's editorial independence will be maintained." The Nobel Prize Committee evaluated Muratov's work and gave reason for the award as follows: “For their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” Dmitry Muratov, who has emerged as a symbol of the struggle for freedom of speech and citizens' right to know, is expected to have a positive influence on the world beyond Russia.