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November 7, 2024 – Russia –
In a stark escalation of its campaign against independent media, Russia has taken severe punitive action against Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe. Two interconnected legal assaults—his arrest in absentia and a subsequent 6-year prison sentence—underscore the Kremlin’s intensified drive to suppress dissent.
On November 6, 2024, a Moscow court formally arrested Martynov in absentia, accusing him of “organizing the activities of an undesirable organization”. The charge stems from his leadership of Novaya Gazeta Europe (banned by prosecutors in June 2023) and the Free University, another independent project classified as “undesirable”.
The campaign escalated further on April 22, 2025, when the Basmanny District Court sentenced Martynov in absentia to six years in prison, citing Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code. While prosecution had sought a seven-year term, Martynov received a six-year sentence and was barred from administering websites for three years. Authorities signaled that the sentence would be enforced if he returned to Russia or were extradited.
Martynov, who has edited Novaya Gazeta Europe since its 2022 launch in Latvia, condemned the verdict as emblematic of a regime consumed by repression. He warned that the targeting of media professionals pursuing truth within exile contexts signals “fake arrests” in service of authoritarianism.
These judicial maneuvers are emblematic of Russia’s broader repression. Since mid-2023, the Russian government has added a litany of independent outlets—including Meduza, iStories, Mediazona, and the Free University—to its “undesirable” list under legislation originally passed in 2015. The crackdown includes “foreign agent” prosecutions and warrants for exiled journalists, as documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Martynov’s prosecution marks a chilling precedent: the first time an independent media chief is convicted simply for existing in the capacity of editor. It extends Russian jurisdiction beyond its borders, turning exile into a liability and signaling to all dissenting voices that geography offers no immunity.
This case sends a grim message: Russian authorities are prepared to judicially eliminate critical journalism wherever it operates. For media freedom in exile, it’s a warning shot—a clear indication that independent Russian journalism, even abroad, remains under direct threat.
Reference –
Editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta detained and fined for “discrediting” the Russian army
