Mikhail Zygar
Biography
Mikhail Zygar is a prominent Russian journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker, born in 1981 in Moscow. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). Zygar rose to prominence as the founding editor-in-chief of the independent Russian TV channel Dozhd (TV Rain) from 2010 to 2015, where he championed critical and independent journalism despite increasing government pressure. His work primarily focuses on contemporary Russian history and politics, presented in an accessible and engaging narrative style. After leaving Dozhd, Zygar transitioned more into writing and multimedia projects. His bestseller, "All the Kremlin's Men" (2015), offered an unprecedented, often intimate, look into the power dynamics surrounding Vladimir Putin. He continued this approach with works like "The Empire Must Die" and "The War and Punishment," consistently challenging official narratives and exploring the historical roots of modern Russian political culture. Zygar is highly regarded for his ability to translate complex geopolitical and historical analyses into compelling stories for a broad international audience.
Selected Thoughts
«In Russia, history is not a science, but a weapon. It is used to justify certain actions and to explain current events, instead of studying the actual past.»
«The main problem of Russian history is that it is still not considered history – it is a prophecy.»
«For Russians, the past is not something that is gone. It’s always here and it’s always shaping the present.»
Writing Style
Investigative journalism, narrative non-fiction, accessible historical analysis, biographical storytelling, critical and analytical. His style is often fast-paced and engaging, designed to simplify complex political and historical events for a broad audience while maintaining journalistic rigor.