| Ilya Azar | |
| Native Name Lang: | ru |
| Birth Name: | Ilya Williamovich Azar |
| Birth Date: | 1984 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Alma Mater: | Higher School of Economics (2006) |
| Nationality: | Russian |
| Occupation: | Journalist |
Ilya Vilyamovich Azar (Russian: Илья Вильямович Азар; born June 29, 1984) is a Russian journalist,[1] [2] [3] special correspondent for Novaya Gazeta since 2017,[4] former special correspondent for the online publication Lenta.ru, and a former special correspondent for the Meduza project. He was a Member of the Council of Deputies of the Khamovniki District in Moscow.[5]
Azar was charged with organising opposition demonstrations demanding free elections to Moscow's city legislature on September 8, 2019.[6] In May 2020, he was arrested and jailed for 15 days for breaking protest laws during a protest against the detention of an campaigner against police corruption. Other journalists were subsequently arrested while protesting against Azar's arrest.[7]
He was also criticized by authorities of Kazakhstan for a text at Meduza describing local separatists. This led to blocking of Meduza in Kazakhstan.[8]
Azar is a two-time winner of the Redkollegia media award.[9] [10]