On Tuesday, the Russian court sentenced four journalists for extremism for working in an anti -corruption group founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny And he sentenced each to 5 1/2 years in prison.
Antonina, Kastin Gababov, Sergei Karelin and Art Kryger were found guilty of participating with an extremist group. All four supported their innocence, claiming that they were prosecuted for work as journalists.
The trial of the closed door was part of the relentless repression of the dissent that reached an unprecedented scale after Moscow sent troops to Ukraine In February 2022.
Authorities have sent to opposition figures the suggestion of the thousands to leave the country.
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Favorskaya and Kriger worked with Sotavision, an independent Russian news that covers protests and political trials. Gabov is a producer – a fryllar who worked in several organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, a freelance video journalist, did work in Western media, including Associated Press.
Four journalists were accused of working with a bulk Foundation of Corruptionwhich was appointed extremist and by law in 2021 during the course, which is widely regarded as politically motivated.
Novolly was the most ferocious and most famous enemy of President Vladimir Putin and tirelessly campaigning Against official corruption in Russia. Po There died in February 2024. In the Arctic colony during service 19-year-old term On a number of charges, including the management of the extremist group, which he dismissed as politically guided.
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Farvarskaya said that at a preliminary speech in a court open to the public, which is prosecuted for the history she did by abuse of a cluster, which was confronted with prison. Speaking to journalists from the accused before the verdict, she also said she was punished for help Organize funeral.
Gababov, in a final statement prepared for trial, published by an independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, said the allegations against him were groundless and the prosecution could not prove them.
“I understand well … In what 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 with extremism.”
In a statement by Karelin prepared for their final arguments, which were also published Novaya gazetaHe said he agreed to make street interviews for popular politics, the YouTube channel founded by Navalny associates trying to provide his wife and young child. He stressed that the channel was not banned as extremist and did nothing illegal.
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“The remorse is considered to be a softening circumstance. These are criminals who should repent for what they did. But in prison for my work, for honest and impartial journalism, for the love of my family and the country,” he wrote in a separate speech in court, which was also published in the section in which he emphasized his feelings.
Kryger, in the final statement published by Sotavision, said he was imprisoned and added to the register of extremists and terrorists of Russian financial intelligence “only because I was in good faith as honest, unauthorized and independent journalist for 4 1/2 years.”
“Don't despair, guys, sooner or later will end, and those who sentenced will be imprisoned,” Kryger said after the sentence.
The supporters who gathered into the courthouse chanted and applauded when four journalists were removed from the courtroom after the verdict.
The memorial of the Russian human rights group has appointed all four political prisoners among more than 900 others in the country. This issue includes Mikhail Kryger, Uncle Aryo Kryger, an activist who was arrested in 2022 and served a seven -year prison term.
Mikhail Kryger was convicted of substantiation of terrorism and inciting hatred on Facebook comments, in which he expressed his desire to “hang” Putin.
Four journalists are not the only people associated with the accusations in the Russian legal system. In January, three lawyers who defended the invasion were convicted of participation in the “extremist organization” and sentenced to prison. The lawyers helped to transfer the prison statements to the Navalgian world to death. Vadin Kobzev, the loudest team member, received a term of 5 1/2 years. Alexei Lipster was sentenced to five years and Igor Sergunin was sentenced to 3 1/2 years.
In July 2024, five months after reporting about the death of Novoli, Russia Issued an arrest warrant For the wife, Yulia navalnaya. The country has accused Navalnaya of participating in an “extremist organization”. Navalnaya, who lives in Germany and was named Chairman of the Human Rights Fund in July 2024, ridiculed the decision on social media.