Co-founder. Graduate of the Journalism School, University of International Relations (Moscow, 1978) at different stages of her career Sidorova served as a staff writer, analyst, special and diplomatic correspondent, member of the editorial board of the Russian weekly Novoye Vremia (New Times). She reported from most of the hot spots of the former Soviet Union (Nagorny Karabah, Tbilisi, Baku); wrote high-profile stories on Russian domestic and foreign policies and interviewed leading Russian and foreign politicians of perestroika time; covered the main international events of mid 80s-beginning of 90s.
In 1992–1994 Sidorova was political advisor to the first Foreign Minister of Russia Andrei Kozyrev. In 1993–1995 she also was coordinator for Russia, in the Commission for the Greater Europe – informal platform for discussions between European and new Russian democratic leaders co-chaired by Jacque Chirac and Anatoly Chubais.
From 2001 to 2010 Sidorova served as Editor-in-Chief of Sovershenno Secretno monthly (the first independent Russian newspaper, specializing in investigative reporting) being also one of its leading authors.
In 2012–2014 she was elected Chair of the Executive board of the Vienna based International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists dedicated to the protection of press freedom.
Since 2012 she has been doing trainings for the investigative journalists and bloggers in the Russian regions. And since 2015 – managing the Community of Investigative Journalists — Fond 19/29 programs.
As off 2014 Sidorova is the author and columnist with RFE/RL–Radio Svoboda (Moscow).
Winner of the Russian national Artiom Borovik award «For the Best Journalist Investigation» (2007).
I have read some of Galina Sidorova’s articles in Novoe Vremia about citizen diplomacy in the 1980s — for example, articles about Bridges for Peace and Beyond War. The articles are relevant to my historical research about citizen exchanges and the end of the Cold War. Articles based on my research have appeared recently in the journals Kontsept and Cold War History. I would like to talk with Ms. Sidorova about her experiences and observations in the 1980s.
Galina is a rock star and a mentor to women journalists around the world!