A former prime editor of a Russian radio station essential of Russia's invasion of Ukraine mentioned somebody left a pig's head in a wig by his entrance door.

Alexei Venediktov, the ex-editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow, posted a photograph of the alleged incident on his Telegram channel. An image of Ukraine's official coat of arms with an antisemitic message written on it was additionally hooked up to his door.

Echo of Moscow, an unbiased station, was closed on March 3 after Russian authorities started a crackdown on media criticism of the assault on Ukraine. Earlier than Echo of Moscow was shut down, Russia's prosecutor normal's workplace blocked the station's broadcasts resulting from its protection of the battle.

"They determined to intimidate me and my household? Me, whom Dudayev's militants took to be shot?" Venediktov wrote on Telegram, apparently making a reference to Dzhokhar Dudayev, a Soviet navy chief and the president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria till his 1996 assassination.

Alexei Venediktov
Alexei Venediktov, former editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow and a Russian critic of the invasion of Ukraine, mentioned somebody left a severed pig's head in entrance of his door. On this picture, Venediktov is seen within the workplaces of the Echo of Moscow radio station in Moscow on October 23, 2017. Getty

Max Seddon, the Moscow bureau chief of the Monetary Instances, posted a photograph of Venediktov's Telegram message on Twitter. He defined the message on Venediktov's door, "Judensau," is German for Jewish pig—a centuries-old antisemitic time period.


When Echo of Moscow first bumped into hassle with Russian authorities, Venediktov instructed Reuters that the station's unbiased voice wouldn't be stifled. "Our editorial insurance policies will not change," he mentioned.

Following Echo of Moscow's shutdown, White Home press secretary Jen Psaki condemned such censorship by the Kremlin as "a full assault on media freedom and the reality."

Echo of Moscow was majority owned by Gazprom-Media holding, a subsidiary of the Russia state-owned Gazprom company. Previous to its closing, the station had been working since 1990. Echo of Moscow's radio frequency has since been given to Sputnik Radio, a Russia state station.

Venediktov is a adorned and well-known journalist in Russia who has obtained a number of awards and honors throughout his profession. In 2012, he based the journal Diletant.

A critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Venediktov was recognized to host opposition leaders on the station. He resigned in 2012 from the station's board of administrators as a protest in opposition to modifications put forth by Gazprom. Two years later, Venediktov returned to the board, solely to resign once more in 2018.

Throughout a 2012 assembly with journalists, together with Venediktov, Putin denounced Echo of Moscow. He accused the station of being biased, saying it was "pouring diarrhea" on him "from morning until night time."

Newsweek contacted Venediktov for remark however didn't hear again in time for publication.

Replace 03/24/22 3:52 p.m. ET: This story has been up to date to incorporate extra background data on Venediktov.