Fake “Novaya Gazeta Europe” Journalist Tried to Recruit Nasta Ragatko

Another provocation was attempted by anonymous actors using the name of Russian journalist Irina Garina. This time, a cooperation offer was sent to former editor-in-chief of KYKY.org Nasta Ragatko.

Several days ago, Nasta Ragatko received a message from a Facebook user named Irina Garina. The account was created in May 2025. Ragatko shared the text of the message with the Reform.news editorial team.

“Anastasia, hello. I represent the outlet ‘Novaya Gazeta Europe’. We are, in a sense, also an opposition media outlet, but we work on countering Russian propaganda. We are now launching a full-fledged Belarusian focus. We would like to offer you work analysing the political situation and problematic aspects within the ‘regime’. We have studied your social media, you are a very talented opinion leader and writer)) We are interested in your candidacy. We could agree on payment for your work during an interview. I am ready to propose February 20, 2026. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Irina Garina,” the message said.

The Reform.news editorial team contacted Novaya Gazeta Europe to verify the message.

“Thank you for your vigilance and for writing to us — this is once again a fake Irina Garina! Our Irina Garina does not work on Belarus, and we are not opening a Belarusian editorial office; we already have a special correspondent for Belarus on staff,” they said.

This is not the first provocation involving a fake Irina Garina. In June 2025, the press service of NAU received an interview request for Pavel Latushka, allegedly from a journalist of Novaya Gazeta Europe named Irina Garina. The request proposed participation in the filming of a feature-length documentary about Europe’s resistance to aggression by Russia and Belarus. At that time, a fake Facebook account named Irina Garina was used, which had been created back in 2022.