France Demands Release of Russian Journalists Jailed Over Navalny Coverage

In April 2025, France called on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release four journalists sentenced to five and a half years in prison for their alleged association with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The journalists—Antonina Kravtsova (also known as Antonina Favorskaya), Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artem Kriger—were convicted of “participation in an extremist organization,” referencing Navalny’s banned anti-corruption network.

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine condemned the verdicts, stating that the trial exemplified the Russian government’s efforts to suppress dissent and intimidate those documenting human rights violations. He urged Russia to honor its international commitments regarding freedom of information and to release all individuals prosecuted for political reasons.

The journalists had covered various aspects of Navalny’s activities and the Russian opposition. Kravtsova and Kriger were affiliated with the independent outlet SOTAvision, reporting on political trials and protests. Gabov had collaborated with Reuters and other foreign media, while Karelin, who also holds Israeli citizenship, had worked with the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle.

Their closed-door trial at Moscow’s Nagatinsky District Court is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, which has intensified since the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Navalny’s organizations were labeled as extremist in 2021, and despite his death in a penal colony in February 2024, Russian authorities continue to target individuals linked to his movement.

International human rights organizations have criticized the convictions, viewing them as politically motivated attacks on press freedom. The case underscores the increasing risks faced by journalists operating in Russia, particularly those covering opposition figures and government criticism.