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April 16, 2025 – Russia –
On April 15, 2025, the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow sentenced four journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artem Kriger—to five and a half years in prison each. They were convicted of participating in an “extremist community” linked to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Russian authorities designated as extremist in 2021.
The trial, conducted behind closed doors since October 2024, centered on allegations that the journalists produced content for FBK’s YouTube channel. Favorskaya and Kriger were affiliated with SotaVision, an independent outlet known for covering protests and political trials. Gabov and Karelin were freelance contributors to Reuters and the Associated Press, respectively. Reuters stated there was no evidence linking Gabov’s charges to his freelance work.
Favorskaya had previously filmed Navalny’s court appearances, including his last video before he died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024. She was initially detained in March 2024 after laying flowers at Navalny’s grave and later charged with involvement in an extremist organization.
The sentencing has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates, who view it as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the verdict, stating that journalists must be free to report without fear of reprisal.
This case underscores the increasing risks faced by journalists in Russia, particularly those covering opposition figures and government corruption. The use of extremism charges against media professionals raises concerns about the erosion of press freedom and the suppression of independent journalism in the country.
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