A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced four extremism journalists to work for an anti -corruption group founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny and each sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.
Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artryom Kriger were blamed for participation with a group that had been labeled an extremist. All four had maintained their innocence, arguing that they were prosecuted for their job as journalists.
The closed doors trial was part of a relentless repression of dissent that has reached an unprecedented scale after Moscow sent troops to Ukraine In February 2022.
Authorities have addressed opposition figures, independent journalists, ordinary rights activists and critical critical Kremlin with persecution, imprisoning hundreds and asking thousands to run away from the country.
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Favorskaya and Kriger worked with Sotision, an independent Russian news that covers protests and political evidence. Gabov is an autonomous producer who has worked for various organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, an autonomous video journalist, has worked for the Western media, including The Associated Press.
The four journalists were accused of working with Navalny’s Foundation to fight corruptionwhich was designated as an extremist and banned by 2021, in a widely considered politically motivated movement.
Navalny was the fiercest and most prominent enemy of President Vladimir Putin he campaigned relentlessly Against official corruption in Russia. Navalny Died in February 2024 in an Arctic criminal colony as it serves to 19 years of condemnation In various positions, including directing an extremist group, which had rejected politically.
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Favorskaya said that in a previous judicial appearance open to the audience that was prosecuted by a story he made on the abuse that Navalny faced the bars. Speaking to journalists in the accused cage before the verdict, he also said he was punished to help – Organize Navalny’s funeral.
Gabov, in a closing statement prepared for the court that was published by the Independent Diary of Novaya Gazeta, said that the allegations against him were found to be found and that the prosecution did not show.
« I understand perfectly well … what kind of country I live. Throughout history, Russia has never been different, there is nothing new in the current situation, » Gabov said in a statement. « Independent journalism is equated to extremism. »
In a statement, Karelin prepared for his closing arguments that was also published by Novaya GazetaHe said he had agreed to interview on the street for popular politics, a YouTube channel founded by Navalny members, while trying to provide his wife and young son. He emphasized that the channel was not banned as an extremist and had done nothing illegal.
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« Remorse is considered to be an attenuating circumstance. They are the criminals who must have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude with journalism, for love for my family and country, » he wrote in a separate speech for a court that was also published by the departure, in which he emphasized his feelings in capital letters.
Kriger, in a closing statement published by Sotision, said he was imprisoned and added to the Russian register of financial intelligence and terrorists « only because I have consciously performed my professional functions as an honest, incorruptible and independent journalist for 4 years 1/2 ».
« Do not despair the boys, sooner or later they will end and those who passed the sentence will go behind the grilles, » Kriger said after the verdict.
Supporters who gathered in the court building sang and applauded, as the four journalists were headed to the room after the verdict.
The Memorial of the Russian Human Rights Group designated the four political prisoners, among more than 900 more people in the country. This issue includes Mikhail Kriger, Artryom Kriger’s uncle, a Moscow -based activist who was arrested in 2022 and has a sentence of seven years in prison.
Mikhail Kriger was convicted of justifying terrorism and inciting hatred in Facebook’s comments in which he stated the desire to « hang » putin.
The four journalists are not the only people linked to Navalny who have faced charges of the Russian legal system. In January, three Navalny advocates were sentenced to participating in an « extremist organization » and sentenced to prison. Lawyers had helped transmit Navalny’s statements to the world before his death. Vadim Kobzev, the highlights of the team, received a sentence of 5 to 1 year. Alexey Lipster was sentenced to five years and Igor Sergunin was sentenced to 3 years and 2 years.
In July 2024, five months after Navalny’s death, Russia issued an arrest warrant For his wife, Yulia Navalnaya. The country accused Navalnaya of participating in an « extremist organization ». Navalnaya, who lives in Germany and was named President of the Human Rights Foundation in July 2024, derived the decision on social media.
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