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November 27, 2024 – Russia –
Russian journalist Nika Novak was sentenced to four years in prison by a court in Chita, Siberia, under Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which criminalizes “confidential cooperation with a foreign organization.” The verdict marks a troubling escalation in the Kremlin’s crackdown on independent journalism and foreign-affiliated media.
Novak, a freelance reporter and former editor at ChitaMedia, had contributed to U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Russian authorities accused her of publishing “inaccurate material” aimed at discrediting the Russian armed forces—charges rooted in her reporting on alleged military misconduct during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Her arrest on December 25, 2023, followed a raid on her Moscow apartment by the Federal Security Service (FSB). She was held in pretrial detention for months before being transferred back to Chita, where her closed-door trial began in October and concluded with her sentencing in November.
International condemnation has been swift. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Press Institute (IPI), and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) have all called for Novak’s immediate release. RFE/RL president Stephen Capus described the charges as “politically motivated,” while rights group Memorial designated Novak a political prisoner.
Novak is the first journalist to be convicted under Article 275.1, introduced in July 2022, a law critics say is designed to criminalize any communication with foreign entities. Legal experts warn that the law’s broad wording enables authorities to suppress dissent under the guise of national security. During a March 2025 appeal hearing, Novak was transferred to solitary confinement and had over 500,000 rubles in earnings seized by the court, further intensifying the punitive measures against her.
Her case has become a symbol of the Kremlin’s expanding efforts to silence independent reporting. With more than 20 journalists currently imprisoned in Russia, Novak’s sentence sets a dangerous precedent. As legal avenues narrow and state repression widens, her imprisonment reflects the increasingly perilous landscape for journalists working under Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Reference –
Russian journalist Nika Novak sentenced to 4 years in prison
Russia: IPI condemns 4-year prison sentence handed to journalist Nika Novak
