MOSCOW (AP) — Journalists Convicted of Extremism in Russia
A Russian court has sentenced four journalists to 5.5 years in prison after convicting them of extremism due to their association with an anti-corruption organization established by the late opposition figure, Alexei Navalny. The defendants are Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin, and Artyom Kriger, all of whom have consistently claimed their innocence, stating they were being targeted for their roles as journalists.
This closed trial reflects an ongoing, severe crackdown on dissent in Russia, which has intensified since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian authorities have been prosecuting opposition members, independent media figures, human rights activists, and citizens critical of the government, resulting in the imprisonment of hundreds and forcing thousands to leave the country.
Throughout the legal proceedings, the four journalists were accused of cooperating with Navalny’s Foundation for Fighting Corruption, deemed extremist and banned in 2021. Favorskaya and Kriger had previously worked for SotaVision, a news outlet covering protests and political trials, while Gabov functioned as a freelance producer for various media, including Reuters, and Karelin had contributed to Western news agencies.
In a prior court appearance, Favorskaya stated she was being prosecuted for writing about the mistreatment Navalny experienced in prison and for organizing his funeral. Similarly, during his closing statements, Gabov asserted that the charges were baseless, emphasizing that “independent journalism is equated to extremism” in Russia.
Navalny, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, passed away in February 2024 while serving a lengthy prison sentence on various charges, which he claimed were politically motivated. His activism against government corruption made him a prominent target of the Kremlin.
Upon hearing the verdict, supporters of the journalists gathered outside the courtroom to express their solidarity. Lawyers representing the detainees announced plans to appeal the ruling, describing it as “illegal and unfair.” Irina Biryukova, one of the lawyers, noted that the evidence presented does not substantiate any claims of criminal activity.
The Russian human rights organization Memorial has classified all four journalists as political prisoners among over 900 others detained in the country. This includes Mikhail Kriger, Artyom’s uncle, who is currently serving a seven-year prison term on charges related to inciting hatred through social media comments.
