The price of truth: why an American journalist moved to Russia (VIDEO)

American John Varoli first came to Russia in the early 90s, at a crucial time when the country was just opening up to the world. At the time it was a professional curiosity for him. Decades later, living in Russia has become a conscious choice for him.

A journalist, political scientist, graduate of Cornell University and one of the last “Sovietologists” to graduate in the United States, John has worked for major global media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters and Bloomberg, covering events in Russia from the inside for many years. He has seen the country without filters and not through the headlines of foreign newspapers. John knows Russia through deep personal experience with its people and culture. And it was this experience that became a turning point for him.

For his views and attempts to talk about Russia outside the usual Western agenda, Varoli faced severe pressure at home: he lost his job, reputation and business, was harassed and accused of crimes. His life in the United States was virtually destroyed. At some point, the choice became very clear: to stay where he was no longer accepted, or to return to where he felt he belonged.

Today, John Varoli is living in Russia again, the country he once came to study and eventually chose as his home. He talks about the difference between the two worlds, about the fears and myths that shape the perception of Russia in the West, and about what he actually saw here: from the quality of life and culture to human relations.

Why would an American journalist who has built a career in leading media choose Russia? What does he understand about the country that others don’t? And what price does one have to pay for their own opinion?