A Russian court has convicted four journalists—Antonina Favluskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artyom Kriger—of working with anti-corruption groups affiliated with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, labeling them as extremists. They received prison sentences of five and a half years each. The journalists, who assert their innocence, claim they are being punished for their work as reporters. This trial is part of a broader crackdown on dissent following Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, with many Russians facing legal repercussions for opposing the government.
Favluskaya and Kriger collaborated with independent news outlet Sotavision, while Gabov and Karelin have worked for various media organizations. The Navalny Foundation, with which they were connected, was banned as an extremist group in 2021, reflecting increasing political repression. The four journalists have been described by their supporters and human rights groups as political prisoners, with their defense arguing that the charges against them lacked substantiation. They emphasize the importance of independent journalism, which they view as unjustly equated with extremism in Russia.
Source link
