A Russian courtroom has convicted 4 journalists of extremism for working for an anti-corruption organisation based by late opposition chief Alexei Navalny.
Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger have been sentenced to 5 and a half years every. The courtroom, Moscow’s Nagatinsky district courtroom, discovered them responsible of involvement with a bunch — Navalny’s Basis for Preventing Corruption — that was labelled “extremist” in Russia in 2021.
All 4 maintained their innocence and stated that they have been being prosecuted for doing their job as journalists.
That is the most recent incident of Kremlim persecuting dissenting voices within the nation together with activists, impartial journalists and political opponents. The crackdown on dissent has solely intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Two of the 4 convicted journalists, Favorskaya and Kriger labored with SotaVision — an impartial Russian media outlet recognized for documenting protests and political trials.
Gabov is a contract producer who has labored with a number of worldwide information organisations together with with Reuters. Karelin, a contract video journalist, has contributed to the Related Press.
“They may all attraction” their sentences, Ivan Novikov, the lawyer defending Kriger informed the reporters. “The sentence is illegal and unjust,” stated a second lawyer for Kriger, Yelena Sheremetyeva.
“No proof was introduced that these guys dedicated any crimes, their guilt was not confirmed,” Gabov’s lawyer Irina Biryukova stated.
Navalny was a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and his insurance policies and fiercely fought towards corruption in Russia. He died final yr in February whereas serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic jail colony — which lots of his defenders stated was geared toward silencing him.
Folks enter a courtroom constructing to attend a listening to of 4 Russian journalists on the Nagatinsky District Courtroom in Moscow, Russia, 15 April 2025 (EPA)
The press secretary of Navalny’s widow Yulia, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on X: “Antonina, Artem, Sergei and Konstantin are actual journalists and simply sincere, courageous folks. They need to be launched instantly.” She stated that they have been being punished for doing their job.
One of many 4 journalists, Favorskaya, has stated at an earlier courtroom look that she was being targetted for doing a narrative on the abuse Navalny confronted in jail.
Gabov referred to as the accusations groundless and stated in his closing assertion — which was additionally revealed by Novaya Gazeta newspaper: “I perceive completely effectively (…) what sort of nation I reside in. All through historical past, Russia has by no means been completely different, there may be nothing new within the present scenario. Impartial journalism is equated to extremism.”
Folks wait outdoors a courtroom constructing to attend a listening to of 4 Russian journalists on the Nagatinsky District Courtroom in Moscow, Russia, 15 April 2025 (EPA)
Karelin stated in his closing arguments that he had accomplished avenue interviews for a YouTube channel, Well-liked Politics, based by Navalny’s associates. He claimed that the channel was not labelled “extremist” and that he had accomplished nothing incorrect.
“Regret is taken into account to be a mitigating circumstance. It’s the criminals who have to have regret for what they did. However I’m in jail for my work, for the sincere and neutral angle to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my household and nation,” he wrote in a separate speech for the courtroom that additionally was revealed by Novaya Gazeta.
Kriger, in a closing assertion revealed by SotaVision, stated that he was being focused “solely as a result of I’ve carefully carried out my skilled duties as an sincere, incorruptible and impartial journalist for 4 1/2 years”.
“Don’t despair guys, eventually it can finish and those that delivered the sentence will go behind bars,” Kriger stated after the decision.
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