Russia Fines 11 Journalists and Restricts Media Outlets in Ongoing Assault on Press Freedom

September 20, 2024 – Russia – 

Russian authorities escalated their crackdown on independent journalism, issuing fines to 11 journalists and imposing legal restrictions on two media outlets under the guise of “anti-state” legislation. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), these actions are part of a broader effort to suppress dissenting voices amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Journalists were fined under a range of repressive laws, including those governing so-called “foreign agents,” “undesirable organizations,” and wartime “disinformation.” Among them was Aida Ivanova, editor-in-chief of the Siberian outlet SakhaDay, who was fined for sharing a link to the banned independent site Meduza. Roman Badanin, editor of the investigative platform Proekt, was penalized for failing to label himself a “foreign agent” on content he published from exile. Several other exiled journalists—Andrey Soldatov, Svetlana Reiter, and Tuyara Innokentyeva—faced similar fines for sharing Meduza content on social media.

Two Crimean Tatar journalists, Seyran Ibrahimov and Bekir Mamutov, were hit with combined fines nearing 790,000 rubles (approximately $8,700) for “discrediting” the Russian military through reports on forced mobilization and critical UN assessments. Meanwhile, YouTuber Pavel Dmitriev was fined for a video criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Authorities also labeled two media outlets as enemies of the state. Sobesednik, one of the few remaining independent print newspapers in Russia, was designated a “foreign agent,” forcing it to halt publication while it mounts a legal challenge. Belsat TV, a Poland-based Belarusian channel known for its reporting on authoritarian abuses, was declared “undesirable,” effectively banning its content within Russian territory.

CPJ condemned these measures as part of an expanding campaign to silence independent journalism through legal, financial, and administrative means. The fines and designations make it increasingly dangerous for journalists—whether domestic or in exile—to report on Russian affairs. As wartime censorship tightens, the space for truth-telling continues to shrink.

CPJ called on Russian authorities to repeal these laws, reverse the penalties, and respect media freedom by international norms.

Reference –

Russia fines 11 journalists, restricts 2 outlets with anti-state laws – Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org)