Artyom Borovik
Artyom[a] Genrikhovich Borovik (Russian: Артём Ге́нрихович Борови́к; 13 September 1960 – 9 March 2000) was a Russian investigative journalist and media magnate.[1][2] He was the son of a Soviet journalist, Genrikh Borovik, who worked for many years as a foreign correspondent in the U.S.
Artyom Borovik | |
|---|---|
| Артем Боровик | |
| Born | 13 September 1960 |
| Died | 9 March 2000 (aged 39) |
| Occupation | Investigative journalist, media proprietor |
| Parent(s) | |
| Awards | |
| Website | http://sovsekretno.ru/ |
Journalism edit
Borovik first appeared on Soviet television in late 1980s as one of the hosts of a highly progressive and successful Vzglyad (which literally translates as The View or The Look), a kind of satirical television show watched weekly by as many as 100 million people.[3] The other anchors were Vladislav Listyev, Alexander Lyubimov and Alexander Politkovsky.
Borovik was a pioneer of investigative journalism in the Soviet Union during the beginning of glasnost. He worked for the American CBS program 60 Minutes during the 1990s, and began publishing his own monthly investigative newspaper Top Secret, which grew into a mass-media company involved in book publishing and television production. In 1999, Borovik started an investigative program called Versia in partnership with U.S. News & World Report.
His Top Secret TV programme often focused on corruption cases involving Russia's political and economic elite. The programme, as well as Borovik's print publications, Top Secret and Versia, were openly critical of Vladimir Putin. Borovik also opposed the First and Second Chechen Wars. His last investigation was about the Russian apartment bombings of 1999, which he and others alleged had actually been orchestrated by the Russian FSB.[4] In one of his last papers, he quoted Vladimir Putin, who said: "There are three ways to influence people: blackmail, vodka, and the threat to kill."[5] This quote Borovik based on Der Spiegel and Stern, German magazines.[6]
Death edit
Borovik died in an aircraft crash at Sheremetyevo International Airport on 9 March 2000. The Yakovlev Yak-40 was chartered by the Chechen oil industry executive Ziya Bazhayev for a flight to Kyiv. All nine people on board, including five crew, perished in the crash.[7][8][9] The originally scheduled aircraft was due to depart at 8:00 in the morning of 9 March 2000; however, due to Borovik's planned flight being delayed, Bazhayev offered Borovik a seat on his aircraft.
The official investigation into the crash by the Interstate Aviation Committee revealed that whilst snow was removed from the aircraft exterior, de-icing fluid was not applied. The crew did not ask for permission to enter the taxiway, which was done at too high a speed for the icy conditions, and the flaps were set to 11 degrees, instead of 20 degrees. The aircraft reached a speed of 165 km/h, when the crew began to rotate the aircraft, at which stage it reached a 13-degree angle of attack, and stalled 8–10 metres off the ground. The airplane rolled left and struck the ground with a 60-65 degree bank angle and crashed.[10][11][12]
According to historian Yuri Felshtinsky and political scientist Vladimir Pribylovsky, Borovik's death may be linked to his publications about Vladimir Putin just before the presidential elections that took place on 26 March.[13] He died three days prior to the scheduled publication of materials about Putin's childhood. At this time, he also conducted an investigation of the 1999 Moscow apartment bombings.[4][14] Borovik had studied Vera Putina's claims.[13][15]
Borovik is buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.
Artyom Borovik award edit
The Artyom Borovik award "for outstanding creative achievements in the field of independent journalism and investigative journalism in the Russian media" was established by a charitable organisation named after Artyom Borovik and headed by Genrikh Borovik. On September 13, 2001, the first winners of the award were named.[16]
Winners edit
2001: Anna Politkovskaya[17][18]
2002: Roman Gusarov[19]
2007: Marianna Maksimovskaya[20]
2008: Alexei Venediktov[21][22]
2010: Alexander Carmen[23]
2012: Roman Anin[24]
His books edit
Borovik published several books, including The Hidden War, about the Soviet–Afghan War.
- Artyom Borovik. Russian in the U.S. Army. Hippocrene Books, Inc. 1990. ISBN 0-87052-627-8
- Artyom Borovik. Hidden War: A Russian Journalist's Account of the Soviet War in Afghanistan. Grove/Atlantic, Inc. 1992. ISBN 0-87113-283-4
Notes edit
- ^ Sometimes transcribed to English as Artem
References edit
- ^ Wines, Michael (10 March 2000). "Moscow Crash Kills Journalist and Oil Man; Suspicions Raised". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Traynor, Ian (10 March 2000). "Mystery death of Kremlin critic". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Clines, Rancis X. (12 January 1991). "Soviet Press Curbs Hint at a Retreat". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
- ^ a b "Incident #1: Borovik's 'Top Secret'".
- ^ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Business Watch, "Oleg Kalugin: 'Man In The News' Once Again", 9 April 2002.
- ^ Sovsekretno
- ^ Leading journalist killed in plane crash - IFEX
- ^ Mystery death of Kremlin critic, The Guardian, 10 March 2000
- ^ Russian crash: search for terrorist link, BBC News.
- ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ Neradko, Alexander (18 February 2002). (in Russian). Inter-Industry Aviation Association. Archived from the original on 30 January 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ (in Russian). Interstate Aviation Committee. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ a b Yuri Felshtinsky and Vladimir Pribylovsky The Age of Assassins: The Rise and Rise of Vladimir Putin, Gibson Square Books, London, 2008, ISBN 1-906142-07-6, pages 116-121.
- ^ BBC News, "Russian crash: search for terrorist link", 10 March 2000.
- ^ "Could this woman be Vladimir Putin's real mother?". The Telegraph. 12 December 2008.
- ^ [The Artyom Borovik award for Contribution to the Development of Independent Journalism will be presented for the eighth time in Moscow on October 27]. TASS (in Russian). 20 October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021 – via Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media (Russia).
- ^ Knobel, Beth; Reals, Tucker (10 October 2006). "Russian Journalist Mourned". CBS News. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Анна Политковская получила в США премию имени Артема Боровика" [Anna Politkovskaya received the Artyom Borovik Prize in the United States]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 27 April 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ [Vice-rector R.V. Gusarov]. State University of Management (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "В Москве в седьмой раз вручили премию Артема Боровика" [In Moscow, the Artyom Borovik Prize was presented for the seventh time]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 17 October 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "The Artyom Borovik Award 2007". Overseas Press Club. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Главреду "Эха Москвы" присуждена премия Артема Боровика" [The chief editor of "Echo of Moscow" was awarded the Artem Borovik prize]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 24 April 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Александр Кармен стал лауреатом премии Артема Боровика" [Alexander Carmen became the laureate of the Artyom Borovik Prize]. Moscow State Institute of International Relations (in Russian). 30 November 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Roman Anin". European Press Prize. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
External links edit
- Artyom Borovik at Find a Grave