A Moscow court has sentenced four journalists to five and a half years in a penal colony. They were accused of working for an extremist organization linked to Alexei Navalny, the late opposition leader. This case highlights Russia’s ongoing crackdown on dissent and press freedom.
The journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artem Kriger—were found guilty of participating in extremist activities. They were arrested last year and have faced a trial behind closed doors since October. As they entered the courtroom for the verdict, their friends and family were present, showing support.
Prosecutors claimed the journalists created content for Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, which the Russian government has labeled as extremist. The defendants’ legal teams and opposition activists have condemned the trial as politically motivated. Elena Sheremetyeva, Kriger’s lawyer, stated that the verdict was unjust and that there was no solid evidence against her client. She plans to appeal the decision.
Gabov and Karelin have worked as freelance video journalists for Western media, while Favorskaya and Kriger were part of SOTAVision, an independent Russian news outlet designated as a foreign agent by the authorities. Their case follows the sentencing of three of Navalny’s former defense lawyers on similar charges earlier this year.
Navalny, known for his fierce criticism of President Vladimir Putin, died in a remote penal colony in February last year under suspicious circumstances. His supporters believe the government was involved in his death, a claim the Kremlin denies.
This latest sentencing underscores the increasing risks faced by journalists and activists in Russia, where dissent is met with harsh penalties.