Wikipedia

Anton Krasovsky

Anton Vyacheslavovich Krasovsky (Kuznetsov-Krasovsky)[1][2] (Russian: Антон Вячеславович Красовский (Кузнецов-Красовский); born 18 July 1975) is a Russian television presenter, journalist and activist.[3][4] He was a presenter and director of Russian-language broadcasting on the Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT from 2020[5] until his suspension in October 2022,[6][7] after comments he made caused a backlash.[8][9][10][11] Previously, he came to prominence for his defense of gay rights in Russia, including his criticism of the Russian gay propaganda law.[12][7][13]

Anton Krasovsky
Антон Красовский
Krasovsky in 2022
Born
Anton Vyacheslavovich Kuznetsov-Krasovsky

(1975-07-18) 18 July 1975 (age 49)
Podolsk, Moscow Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
CitizenshipRussia
EducationMaxim Gorky Literature Institute
Occupations
Years active1996–present
Voice of Anton Krasovsky
From the live of Echo of Moscow
21 September 2013
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Life and career

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Krasovsky was born on 18 July 1975 in Podolsk and studied at the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute.[14] In 2011 Krasovsky participated in the presidential campaign of Mikhail Prokhorov.[15] He also worked as a journalist and editor at the pro-Kremlin[16] NTV channel.[17] He previously worked at Kommersant, Yandex, Nezavisimaya Gazeta and Vogue.[18]

Krasovsky later began work at another pro-Kremlin[16] channel, Kontr TV, started by himself and Sergey Minaev in December 2012.[19] On 25 January 2013, during a discussion of a proposed national ban on "homosexual propaganda", Krasovsky revealed his homosexuality, stating on-air, "I'm gay and I'm as much a human-being as President Putin and Premier Medvedev." (Russian: Я гей и такой же человек, как президент Путин и премьер Медведев.)[19] His statement was not made available online or was deleted soon afterwards,[17][20] and on 28 January Krasovsky resigned from the channel and denounced the working environment there.[19][21] According to other sources, he was fired the same day.[22] His face was soon censored from the show website and removed from the TV show's archives.[20]

Krasovsky stated that he came out because he had had enough of feeling like a hypocrite.[19] He later referred to the channel's entire output as "propaganda."[23] In May, following the murder of Vlad Tornovy reportedly because he was thought to be gay,[24] Krasovsky published an article in The Guardian denouncing homophobia in Russia. He wrote:[25]

How did it come about that today in Russia a good gay person is a dead gay person? How did there come to be a law in the Duma that forbids justifying homosexuality? Until now, the only thing you were forbidden to justify in my country was terrorism.... So as far as the deputies are concerned I am not a human being in the same sense that they are; I am to be classed as scum, like a terrorist. As far as the deputies are concerned I am scum by the fact of my birth, and it was criminal negligence not to have made a note of that in my birth certificate. What seemed like a bad dream only a couple of years ago has now become reality. And it is terrifying to imagine what could happen tomorrow.

Krasovsky spoke out in August 2013 against the boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia that some gay rights activists proposed. He said: "If you want to boycott Olympic games in Russia, you're trying to boycott 7 million gay people in Russia. You want to boycott me."[20] He is interviewed about his experiences in the 2014 documentary film Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda.[26]

In July 2016, Krasovsky and the head of the outpatient department of the Moscow Regional AIDS Center Elena Orlova-Morozova established The Foundation in support of people who live with HIV — AIDS.Center.[27]

Since 2021 Krasovsky has presented a program on Russia Today called The Antonyms.

In October 2022, Krasovsky, who is openly gay, supported the approval of a law banning "LGBT propaganda" in Russia.[28] Previously, in 2013, Krasovsky spoke out against such laws and urged gay people to fight for their rights.[29]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

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Krasovsky was a prominent supporter and pro-war commentator during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[6] Prior to the invasion, amid a rise in bellicose rhetoric in Russian state media, Krasovsky referred to Ukrainians as "animals", described Ukraine as "our Russian land", and warned that Russia would invade if Ukraine was close to joining NATO.[30][31]

After the Vinnytsia missile strikes in July 2022, which killed 23 people, including 3 children, Krasovsky said that "Vinnytsia is not enough", and voiced his hope for a "final solution. A real, military one".[32]

In August 2022, he said that "there should not be any Ukrainians at all" and therefore, that the Ukrainian language should be banned.[32]

On 10 October 2022, in the aftermath of missile strikes across Ukraine which caused 14 deaths, Krasovsky shared a video of him dancing on a balcony in a cap with the letter Z,[33] stating: "To say that I am happy is to say nothing at all. I'm just dancing on the balcony in Russian Army pajamas."[34] In another post on Telegram, Krasovsky stated that the attack was "not enough".[35]

Suspension from RT

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Main article: Krasovsky case

In late October 2022, during a broadcast, Krasovsky said that Ukrainian children who had in the past criticised the Soviet Union as occupiers of Ukraine should have been thrown into river to make them drown there or been burned alive in their cottages. When Krasovsky said Ukraine "should not exist at all", his interviewee objected as this would mean incorporating many people who did not wish to live under Russian rule, to which Krasovsky said Russia should "shoot" these people.[36][37][38] The comments sparked outrage both outside and inside Russia, and Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba called on countries to ban RT for what he described as incitement of genocide.[5] RT's editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, said that she had suspended Krasovsky over the "disgusting" comments.[6][39][40]

That same day, Krasovsky apologized:[41]

Look, I'm really embarrassed that I somehow didn't see that edge. About the children. Well, it happens like this: you're sitting on the air, you're going wild. And you can't stop. I apologize to everyone who was freaked out by that. I apologize to Margarita (Simonyan), to everyone for whom it seemed wild, unthinkable and irresistible. I hope you'll forgive me.

On the evening of the same day, Krasovsky recorded a four-minute video apology stating that "every baby's tear is my pain, my worst nightmare".[42]

Personal life

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On 25 January 2013 he came out as a gay man.[43]

In December 2017, Krasovsky revealed that he has been HIV positive since 2011.[44]

Sanctions

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In late February, following the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Krasovsky was sanctioned by the European Union;[45] the government of the United Kingdom did the same as a result of the invasion.[46]

References

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  1. ^ "Список доверенных лиц кандидата на должность Президента РФ Прохорова Михаила Дмитриевича" [List of confidants of the presidential candidate Mikhail Dmitriyevich Prokhorov] (in Russian). 2 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Красовский подал документы для участия в выборах мэра Москвы" [Krasovsky submits documents to participate in Moscow mayoral election]. Meduza (in Russian). 15 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Russian State TV Presenter Said Ukrainian Children Should Have Been Drowned, Sparking Outrage". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 23 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Kremlin-funded RT presenter claims Ukraine is Russian land that Russia will 'take back' by force".
  5. ^ a b "Russian TV presenter accused of inciting genocide in Ukraine". the Guardian. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Ukraine urges global ban of Russia's RT over presenter's call to drown children". Reuters. 23 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Krasovsky: Russia bans 'burn Ukrainian kids' TV presenter". BBC News. 24 October 2022.
  8. ^ "RT: Мы сожжем украинскую конституцию на Крещатике". The New Times. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ^ "В России предлагают создать идеологию "путинизма"". Krym.Realii [uk] (in Russian). 16 July 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  10. ^ ""В этой ипостаси он абсолютное зло". Портрет пропагандиста Антона Красовского от Светланы Рейтер". Meduza (in Russian). 18 September 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  11. ^ ""Танцую в пижаме "Армии России"", "Ответочка прилетела", "Я счастлив". Пропагандисты об ударах по Киеву, в результате которых погибли люди". The Insider (in Russian). 10 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Gay Russian TV personality reflects on his firing and his country". Los Angeles Times. 23 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Meet Anton Krasovsky, the Gay Man Running for Mayor of Moscow". The Daily Beast. 29 June 2018.
  14. ^ Антон Красовский – Про меня [Anton Krasovsky - About me]. Snob.ru. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Prokhorov's campaign to be run by journalist Anton Krasovsky". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Anton Krasovsky | The Guardian". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  17. ^ a b "The Courage Required To Come Out in Putin's Russia - All News Is Global". Worldcrunch.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Following Paul Pubic NTV went with Anton Krasovsky". News-su.1gb.ru. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d Kseniya Sokolova (2 June 2013). "Anton Krasovsky: I'm gay, and I'm a human being just like president Putin". Snob.ru. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  20. ^ a b c "Anton Krasovsky, Russian TV Presenter Sacked After Coming Out As Gay on Air". The Huffington Post. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  21. ^ Антон Красовский покинул канал Kontr TV [Anton Krasovsky have left Kontr TV channel]. Lenta.ru. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  22. ^ "Russian anchor fired after coming out on live TV". CBS News. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  23. ^ Kseniya Sokolova (2 June 2013). Антон Красовский: Я гей, и я такой же человек, как президент Путин [I'm gay, and I am as human as President Putin]. Snob.ru. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Arrests over 'anti-gay' murder in Volgograd Russia". BBC News. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  25. ^ Krasovsky, Anton (14 May 2013). "I came out because gay people in Russia are suffering – it's time for courage". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  26. ^ "Russia's Deadly Campaign". Out. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  27. ^ Yesenia Martynova (6 October 2016). "Фонд "СПИД.ЦЕНТР" просит о финансовой помощи" [AIDS.Center Foundation asks for financial help] (in Russian). New Izvestia. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  28. ^ ""Эта нога — у кого надо нога" - Гея гей запрещай скорей". Новая газета. Европа (in Russian). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Красовский: если геи не будут бороться, их сожгут" [Krasovsky: If gays don't fight, they will be burned]. BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 17 May 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  30. ^ Coynash, Halya (17 January 2022). ""Kremlin-funded RT presenter claims Ukraine is Russian land that Russia will 'take back' by force"". Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  31. ^ ""Александр Баунов: что случилось в Казахстане? // Антонимы с Антоном Красовским"("Alexander Baunov: what happened in Kazakhstan? // Antonyms with Anton Krasovsky ")". YouTube (in Russian). 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  32. ^ a b ""Никаких украинцев быть не должно". 10 людоедских цитат Красовского, которые не возмутили Симоньян" ["There shouldn't be any Ukrainians." 10 Cannibalistic Krasovsky Quotes That Didn't Outrage Simonyan]. The Insider (in Russian). 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  33. ^ "Журналист Антон Красовский станцевал на видео из-за ракетных ударов по Украине" [Journalist Anton Krasovsky danced on video because of rocket attacks on Ukraine]. CTNews (in Russian). 10 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Россия ударила ракетами по украинским городам. Чего она добилась и что теперь грозит Украине?" [Russia fired missiles at Ukrainian cities. What has she achieved and what is now threatening Ukraine?] (in Russian). 10 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Russian officials, commentators call for more missile strikes on Ukraine". pbs.org. 11 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Propagandist Anton Krasovsky fired from RT". Russian Free Press. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  37. ^ Cooney, Christy (23 October 2022). "Russia-Ukraine war live: Russian defence minister holds calls with foreign counterparts; Kyiv sees scheduled power cuts". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  38. ^ Tyshchenko, Kateryna (23 October 2022). "Російський пропагандист пропонує вбивати українських дітей, Кулеба закликав заборонити RT [Russian propagandist suggests killing Ukrainian children, Kuleba calls to ban RT]". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  39. ^ "RT "останавливает сотрудничество" с Красовским из-за призыва топить детей". Радио Свобода. 24 October 2022.
  40. ^ Davis, Julia [@JuliaDavisNews] (23 October 2022). "Meanwhile on Russia's state-funded RT, director of broadcasting Anton Krasovsky suggests drowning or burning Ukrainian children, makes hideous comments about the rapes by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, says Ukraine should not exist and Ukrainians who resist Russia should be shot" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Simonyan, Margarita (24 October 2012). "Телеканал RT остановил сотрудничество с Антоном Красовским из-за его призыва "топить" детей в Украине. Он ответил: "Бывает так: сидишь в эфире, тебя несет"" [The RT channel stopped cooperation with Anton Krasovsky because of his call to "drown" children in Ukraine. He replied: "It happens like this: you sit on the air, you are carried"]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  42. ^ ""Я дурак, смешал добро со злом и облажался, скурвился". Антон Красовский — о своем призыве убивать украинских детей" ["I'm a fool, mixed good with evil and screwed up, screwed up." Anton Krasovsky on his call to kill Ukrainian children]. Meduza (in Russian). 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Ксения Соколова. Антон Красовский: Я гей, и я такой же человек, как президент Путин". snob.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  44. ^ "Журналист Антон Красовский рассказал о своем положительном ВИЧ-статусе". Izvestia (in Russian). 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  45. ^ "ЕС ввел санкции против 26 россиян, включая Дмитрия Пескова". TASS. 28 February 2022.
  46. ^ "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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