Nepal’s Journalists Rise Against Nationwide Social Media Blockade
September 8, 2025
Reach’s Big Shake-Up Puts Irish Mirror & Star Journalists in the Crosshairs
September 8, 2025
September 08, 2025 – Lituania –
Lithuanian journalist Eldoradas Butrimas has been added to Russia’s federal wanted list after making social media posts that apparently drew the Kremlin’s ire. The action follows his entry into Russia’s Kursk region, whereupon Russian authorities flagged him as a target for criminal prosecution. This development comes amid increasingly authoritarian measures that penalize journalism and dissent—especially targeting individuals designated under Russia’s expansive “foreign agent” framework.
Although official details remain sparse, Butrimas’s posts were likely deemed to violate Russian laws against spreading “fake news” or discrediting the state—legislation that has frequently been applied to journalists and critics, often resulting in arrest warrants or inclusion on Rosfinmonitoring’s extremist lists.
This incident reflects a broader pattern: over the past year, numerous exiled or independent journalists have been similarly targeted under Russia’s foreign agent and undesirable organization laws—ranging from criminal cases to travel bans and asset seizures. By adding Butrimas to its wanted list, Russia extends its repression across borders, sending a chilling message to foreign-based or internationally present journalists.
Lithuania has not publicly responded yet, but given previous cases such as when Russia placed multiple Baltic politicians on its wanted list in early 2024, causing formal protests, a diplomatic response or public statement can be expected.
In sum, Eldoradas Butrimas’s inclusion on Russia’s wanted list underscores both the widespread suppression of press freedom by the Kremlin and the transnational reach of its repressive apparatus. Even physical presence in border regions like Kursk can prompt serious repercussions, emphasizing the risks journalists face from authoritarian regimes that conflate criticism with criminality.
Reference –
