A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced four extremism journalists for working for an anti -corruption group founded by the deceased leader Alexei Navalny and sentenced each to 5 1/2 years in prison.
Antonina favorkaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were declared guilty of participating with a group that had been labeled as an extremist. The four had accommodated their innocence, arguing that they were being prosecuted for doing their job as journalists.
The closed door trial was part of a relentless repression against the dissent that has reached an unprecedented scale after Moscow Sent troops to Ukraine In February 2022.
The authorities have addressed opposition figures, independent journalists, rights activists and critical Russians of the Kremlin with prosecution, imprisoning hundreds and Causing thousands to flee from the country.
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Favorskaya and Kriger worked with Sotission, an independent Russian media that covers protests and political judgments. Gabov is an independent producer who has worked for multiple organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, an independent video journalist, has worked for Western media, including Associated Press.
The four journalists were accused of working with Navalny’s Foundation to combat corruptionwhich was designated as extremist and forbidden in 2021 in a widely seen movement as politically motivated.
Navalny was the fiercest and most prominent enemy of President Vladimir Putin and Finance negatively Against official corruption in Russia. NAVALNY died in February 2024 In an Arctic Criminal Colony while a 19 -year -old prayer In several positions, including the management of an extremist group, which had rejected as politically promoted.
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Favorskaya said in an appearance in the previous court open to the public that was being prosecuted for a story that made the abuse of Beind’s bars. Speaking to journalists from the defendant’s cage before the verdict, he also said he was punished for helping Organize Navalny funeral.
Gabov, in a closing statement prepared for the Court that was published by the independent newspaper of Novaya Gazeta, said that the accusations against him had no foundation and the Prosecutor’s Office could not prove them.
“I understand perfectly well … in what kind of living country. Through history, Russia has never been different, there is nothing new in the current situation,” Gabov said in the statement. “Independent journalism is equated with extremism.”
In a statement, Karelin prepared for his final arguments that was also published by Novaya GazetaHe said he had agreed to do street interviews for popular politics, a YouTube channel founded by Navalny’s Associates, while trying to keep his wife and a young child. He was stressed that the channel was not prohibited as an extremist and had not done anything illegal.
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“Remorse is a consultant to be an attenuating circumstance. It is criminals who need to regret for what they do. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude towards journalism, for the love of my family and my country, the exit, in which he emphasized his feelings in the capital letters.
Kriger, In a Closing Statement Published by Sotension, Said He was imprisoned and added to the russian Financial Intelligence’s Registry of Extremes and Terrorists “Only Becaause I have consciencesLy Carried Out My Profession Incorusantentnt, honestystent, incorrupting, honestystent, incorporateus and honestrundent, honestruffent, honest, honest, an honest, honest, wide and honor
“Do not despair of the boys, sooner or later they will end and those who delivered the prayer will go after bars,” Kriger said after the verdict.
The supporters who gathered in the Court building sang and applauded when the four journalists were taken from the courtroom after the verdict.
The Russian Human Rights Group designed the four as political prisoners, among more than 900 others held in the country. That number includes Mikhail Kriger, Artyom Kriger’s uncle, an activist based in Moscow who was arrested in 2022 and is serving a seven -year prison sentence.
Mikhail Kriger was convicted of justifying terrorism and inciting hatred about Facebook comments in which he expresses a desire to “hang” Putin.
The four journalists are not the only people linked to Navalny who have faced positions of the Russian legal system. In January, three lawyers who, defended Navalny were convicted of participating in an “extremist organization” and sentenced to prison. The lawyers had helped transmit the statements of Navalny prison to the world before their death. Vadim Kobzev, the highest member of the team, received a sentence of 5 1/2 years. Alexey Lipster was a five -year prayer, and Igor Sergunin was a sentence at 3 1/2 years.
In July 2024, five months of death was reported, Russia Issued an order of judgment For his wife Yulia Navalnaya. The country accused Navalnaya or participated in an “extremist organization.” Navalnaya, who lives in Germany and was appointed president of the Human Rights Foundation in July 2024, ridiculed the decision on social networks.