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Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-corruption journalists who worked with Navalny convicted of ‘extremism' in Russia
A Russian court has convicted four journalists of extremism for working for an anti-corruption organisation founded by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were sentenced to five and a half years each. The court, Moscow's Nagatinsky district court, found them guilty of involvement with a group — Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption — that was labelled 'extremist' in Russia in 2021. All four maintained their innocence and said that they were being prosecuted for doing their job as journalists. This is the latest incident of Kremlim persecuting dissenting voices in the country including activists, independent journalists and political opponents. The crackdown on dissent has only intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Two of the four convicted journalists, Favorskaya and Kriger worked with SotaVision — an independent Russian media outlet known for documenting protests and political trials. Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked with several international news organisations including with Reuters. Karelin, a freelance video journalist, has contributed to the Associated Press. 'They will all appeal' their sentences, Ivan Novikov, the lawyer defending Kriger told the reporters. 'The sentence is unlawful and unjust,' said a second lawyer for Kriger, Yelena Sheremetyeva. 'No evidence was presented that these guys committed any crimes, their guilt was not proven,' Gabov's lawyer Irina Biryukova said. Navalny was a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and his policies and fiercely fought against corruption in Russia. He died last year in February while serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic prison colony — which many of his defenders said was aimed at silencing him. The press secretary of Navalny's widow Yulia, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on X: 'Antonina, Artem, Sergei and Konstantin are real journalists and just honest, brave people. They should be released immediately.' She said that they were being punished for doing their job. One of the four journalists, Favorskaya, has said at an earlier court appearance that she was being targetted for doing a story on the abuse Navalny faced in prison. Gabov called the accusations groundless and said in his closing statement — which was also published by Novaya Gazeta newspaper: 'I understand perfectly well (...) what kind of country I live in. Throughout history, Russia has never been different, there is nothing new in the current situation. Independent journalism is equated to extremism.' Karelin said in his closing arguments that he had done street interviews for a YouTube channel, Popular Politics, founded by Navalny's associates. He claimed that the channel was not labelled 'extremist' and that he had done nothing wrong. 'Remorse is considered to be a mitigating circumstance. It's the criminals who need to have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my family and country,' he wrote in a separate speech for the court that also was published by Novaya Gazeta. Kriger, in a closing statement published by SotaVision, said that he was being targeted 'only because I have conscientiously carried out my professional duties as an honest, incorruptible and independent journalist for 4 1/2 years'. 'Don't despair guys, sooner or later it will end and those who delivered the sentence will go behind bars,' Kriger said after the verdict.
Arab Times
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
4 journalists who were accused of working for Kremlin foe Navalny convicted of extremism
MOSCOW, April 16, (AP): A Russian court on Tuesday convicted four journalists of extremism for working for an anti-corruption group founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny and sentenced them to 5 1/2 years in prison each. Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were found guilty of involvement with a group that had been labeled as extremist. All four had maintained their innocence, arguing they were being prosecuted for doing their jobs as journalists. The closed-door trial was part of an unrelenting crackdown on dissent that has reached an unprecedented scale after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The authorities have targeted opposition figures, independent journalists, rights activists and ordinary Russians critical of the Kremlin with prosecution, jailing hundreds and prompting thousands to flee the country. Favorskaya and Kriger worked with SotaVision, an independent Russian news outlet that covers protests and political trials. Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked for multiple organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, a freelance video journalist, has done work for Western media outlets, including The Associated Press. The four journalists were accused of working with Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption, which was designated as extremist and outlawed in 2021 in a move widely seen as politically motivated. Navalny was President Vladimir Putin's fiercest and most prominent foe and relentlessly campaigned against official corruption in Russia. Navalny died in February 2024 in an Arctic penal colony while serving a 19-year sentence on a number of charges, including running an extremist group, which he had rejected as politically driven. Favorskaya said at an earlier court appearance open to the public that she was being prosecuted for a story she did on abuse Navalny faced behind bars. Speaking to reporters from the defendants' cage before the verdict, she also said she was punished for helping organize Navalny's funeral. Gabov, in a closing statement prepared for court that was published by the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, said the accusations against him were groundless and the prosecution failed to prove them.
Saudi Gazette
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Four journalists accused of working for Kremlin foe Navalny convicted of extremism
MOSCOW — A Russian court has convicted four journalists of extremism for working for an anti-corruption group founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny and sentenced them each to 5 1/2 years in prison. Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were found guilty of involvement with a group that had been labelled as extremist. All four had maintained their innocence, arguing they were being prosecuted for doing their jobs as journalists. Favorskaya and Kriger worked with SotaVision, an independent Russian news outlet that covers protests and political trials. Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked for multiple organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, a freelance video journalist, has done work for Western media outlets, including The Associated four journalists were accused of working with Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption, which was designated as extremist and outlawed in 2021 in a move widely seen as politically was President Vladimir Putin's fiercest and most prominent foe and relentlessly campaigned against official corruption in died in February 2024 in an Arctic penal colony while serving a 19-year sentence on a number of charges, including running an extremist group, which he had rejected as politically said at an earlier court appearance open to the public that she was being prosecuted for a story she did on abuse Navalny faced behind to reporters from the defendants' cage before the verdict, she also said she was punished for helping organize Navalny's in a closing statement prepared for court that was published by the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, said the accusations against him were groundless and the prosecution failed to prove them."I understand perfectly kind of country I live in. Throughout history, Russia has never been different, there is nothing new in the current situation," Gabov said in the statement. "Independent journalism is equated to extremism."In a statement Karelin prepared for his closing arguments that also was published by Novaya Gazeta, he said he had agreed to do street interviews for Popular Politics, a YouTube channel founded by Navalny's associates, while trying to provide for his wife and a young stressed that the channel wasn't outlawed as extremist and had done nothing illegal."Remorse is considered to be a mitigating circumstance. It's the criminals who need to have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my family and country," he wrote in a separate speech for court that also was published by the in a closing statement published by SotaVision, said he was imprisoned and added to the Russian financial intelligence's registry of extremists and terrorists "only because I have conscientiously carried out my professional duties as an honest, incorruptible and independent journalist for 4 1/2 years.""Don't despair guys, sooner or later it will end and those who delivered the sentence will go behind bars," Kriger said after the who gathered in the court building chanted and applauded as the four journalists were led out of the courtroom after the journalists' lawyers said they would appeal the verdict, which Kriger's attorney, Yelena Sheremetyeva, described as "illegal, unfair.'"The profession of a journalist in itself is not extremism," said Irina Biryukova. "And based on the case materials that are available, I will say that in our opinion, there is no evidence that the guys committed any crimes, or even minor offenses."She said the four "are holding up" and "were happy that so many people came."The closed-door trial was part of a crackdown on dissent that reached an unprecedented scale after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February have targeted opposition figures, independent journalists, rights activists and ordinary Russians critical of the Kremlin with prosecution, jailing hundreds and prompting thousands to flee the Russian human rights group Memorial designated all four as political prisoners, among more than 900 others held in the country. — Euronews
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia jails 4 journalists over alleged work with Navalny's foundation
A Russian court sentenced four journalists to five and a half years in prison each on April 15 for their alleged involvement with Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Moscow has labeled an "extremist organization," independent outlet Mediazona reported. The case concerned Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Krieger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov, who were said to be producing video content for Navalny-affiliated YouTube channels, including the Navalny Live platform. Testimony against them reportedly came from individuals who previously participated in street interviews for the channel. Favorskaya, a correspondent for independent Russian outlet SotaVision, was detained in March. Moscow court officials claimed she was responsible for "collecting, editing, and publishing" content for FBK, which was banned in Russia in 2021. The other three — Krieger, also with SotaVision, and freelance journalists Gabov and Karelin — were arrested in April and have remained in pre-trial detention. Gabov has worked with Reuters and Poland's state-financed Belsat, while Karelin previously contributed to the Associated Press and Deutsche Welle. The Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded by Navalny in 2011, gained prominence through its investigations into systemic corruption among Russia's elite. The Kremlin branded the group extremist following Navalny's arrest in January 2021 as part of a sweeping crackdown on dissent. Navalny, who returned to Russia in 2021 after surviving a poisoning attempt, was imprisoned on politically motivated charges and died under suspicious circumstances in an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16, 2024. Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has since taken up a more public role, vowing to carry on his anti-corruption work and hold the Kremlin accountable. She has directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering her husband. The sentencing of the four journalists underscores the Kremlin's continued suppression of independent media and its escalating efforts to silence voices linked to Navalny's legacy. Read also: Economic partnership with US could spur Russia to end war, White House says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Independent
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Anti-corruption journalists who worked with Navalny convicted of ‘extremism' in Russia
A Russian court has convicted four journalists of extremism for working for an anti-corruption organisation founded by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were sentenced to five and a half years each. The court, Moscow 's Nagatinsky district court, found them guilty of involvement with a group — Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption — that was labelled 'extremist' in Russia in 2021. All four maintained their innocence and said that they were being prosecuted for doing their job as journalists. This is the latest incident of Kremlim persecuting dissenting voices in the country including activists, independent journalists and political opponents. The crackdown on dissent has only intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Two of the four convicted journalists, Favorskaya and Kriger worked with SotaVision — an independent Russian media outlet known for documenting protests and political trials. Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked with several international news organisations including with Reuters. Karelin, a freelance video journalist, has contributed to the Associated Press. 'They will all appeal' their sentences, Ivan Novikov, the lawyer defending Kriger told the reporters. 'The sentence is unlawful and unjust,' said a second lawyer for Kriger, Yelena Sheremetyeva. 'No evidence was presented that these guys committed any crimes, their guilt was not proven,' Gabov's lawyer Irina Biryukova said. Navalny was a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and his policies and fiercely fought against corruption in Russia. He died last year in February while serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic prison colony — which many of his defenders said was aimed at silencing him. The press secretary of Navalny's widow Yulia, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on X: 'Antonina, Artem, Sergei and Konstantin are real journalists and just honest, brave people. They should be released immediately.' She said that they were being punished for doing their job. One of the four journalists, Favorskaya, has said at an earlier court appearance that she was being targetted for doing a story on the abuse Navalny faced in prison. Gabov called the accusations groundless and said in his closing statement — which was also published by Novaya Gazeta newspaper: 'I understand perfectly well (...) what kind of country I live in. Throughout history, Russia has never been different, there is nothing new in the current situation. Independent journalism is equated to extremism.' Karelin said in his closing arguments that he had done street interviews for a YouTube channel, Popular Politics, founded by Navalny's associates. He claimed that the channel was not labelled 'extremist' and that he had done nothing wrong. 'Remorse is considered to be a mitigating circumstance. It's the criminals who need to have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my family and country,' he wrote in a separate speech for the court that also was published by Novaya Gazeta. Kriger, in a closing statement published by SotaVision, said that he was being targeted 'only because I have conscientiously carried out my professional duties as an honest, incorruptible and independent journalist for 4 1/2 years'. 'Don't despair guys, sooner or later it will end and those who delivered the sentence will go behind bars,' Kriger said after the verdict.
