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April 15, 2025 – Russia-
On April 15, 2025, a Moscow court sentenced four Russian journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger, Konstantin Gabov, and Sergey Karelin—to five and a half years in prison each on charges of “participation in an extremist organization.” The charges stemmed from their alleged association with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Russian authorities designated as extremist in 2021.
The journalists were accused of producing content for FBK-affiliated platforms. Favorskaya and Kriger were affiliated with the independent outlet SOTAvision, while Gabov and Karelin worked as freelancers for international media organizations, including Reuters and the Associated Press.
The trial was conducted behind closed doors, a move criticized by press freedom advocates as lacking transparency. All four journalists denied the charges, asserting that they were being prosecuted for performing their journalistic duties.
In response to the verdict, France’s Foreign Ministry condemned the sentences and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists. The ministry emphasized that the convictions were part of a broader pattern of repression against independent media in Russia.
International organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), also denounced the sentences. CPJ described the convictions as an attempt to intimidate journalists and suppress independent reporting in Russia. RSF labeled the trial a “mockery of justice” and called for the journalists’ immediate release.
The sentencing of these journalists underscores the increasing risks faced by media professionals in Russia, particularly those covering opposition figures and government criticism. It also highlights the international community’s growing concern over the state of press freedom in the country.
Reference –
https://rsf.org/en/russia-mocks-justice-four-journalists-sentenced-five-and-half-years-prison
