Exiled Russian Journalist Hacked with Pegasus
Summary
This episode features an interview with Galina Timchenko, founder of the exiled Russian media outlet Meduza, who discusses being targeted with Pegasus spyware. Timchenko reveals her phone was infected during a meeting of exiled journalists in Berlin, marking the first documented case of Pegasus used against a Russian journalist. She details the Kremlin’s crackdown on independent press and calls for EU action against state-sponsored surveillance.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Russia's invasion and the targeting of journalists
Podcast intro and Galina Timchenko's Pegasus infection
Galina's background and firing from Lenta.ru in 2014
Kremlin pressure and the replacement of editors
Founding Meduza in exile and its mission
Growing up in the Soviet Union vs. modern Russia
Discovery of Pegasus spyware on Galina's iPhone
The triple pressure on exiled Russian journalists
Imprisoned colleagues and finding inspiration in music
Outro, credits, and future season announcement
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