Latest news with #Favorskaya
Russia Today
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Journalists linked to Navalny jailed
A Moscow court has sentenced four Russian journalists from Reuters, the Associated Press, and SOTAvision to five and a half years in prison each on extremism charges. They were found guilty of working for an extremist group founded by the late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger, Konstantin Gabov, and Sergey Karelin were detained last year on charges of collecting materials and producing and editing videos for Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), and the NavalnyLIVE YouTube channel. The organizations are considered 'extremist' and banned in Russia. Moscow's Nagatinsky District Court found the journalists guilty of 'participating in an extremist group.' The court also imposed a three-year ban on journalists from managing or operating websites. The court held the trial behind closed doors, but allowed observers to attend the sentencing on Tuesday. Among those present at the hearing were representatives from the embassies of Australia, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the US, the Netherlands, and the EU Delegation in Russia. READ MORE: Navalny's former lawyers sentenced to prison in Russia According to prosecutors, Favorskaya, 35, was collecting materials, producing and editing videos and publications for the FBK – charges she has denied, calling them 'absurd.' Kriger, 24, was convicted on similar charges. SOTAvision, the employer of Favorskaya and Kriger, has consistently rejected the accusations, stating that neither journalist has ever worked for Navalny's organizations. Gabov, 38, reportedly worked as a freelance journalist for Reuters, as well as the Russian TV channels Moskva 24 and MIR, and the Belarusian news agency Belsat. Karelin, 42, contributed to the Associated Press. Earlier this year, three of Navalny's former lawyers were found guilty of helping the opposition figure lead an extremist group from prison and were sentenced to three and a half to five and a half years behind bars. Navalny was serving a 19-year prison sentence on multiple extremism-related charges when he died in prison in February 2024.
New York Times
16-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Russia Jails 4 Journalists for Working With Navalny's Organization
Four Russian journalists have been convicted of extremism in a closed-door trial and jailed for working with an anti-corruption group founded in 2011 by the opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny, a ruling drew widespread condemnation from rights groups. The case highlighted the perils of working as an independent journalist in Russia amid the Kremlin's intensified crackdown on freedom of expression since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The journalists — Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin and Artyom Kriger — were charged for associating with the Anti-Corruption Fund, which Mr. Navalny founded and the Kremlin outlawed, labeling it an extremist group. A Moscow court on Tuesday convicted the four of extremism and sentenced each to five and a half years in prison, Russian state news agencies reported. The journalists had pleaded not guilty, saying they were merely doing their jobs. Scores of prominent independent journalists fled Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as the Kremlin clamped down harder on news and free speech than at any time in President Vladimir V. Putin's more than two decades in power. Some journalists and activists who criticized the Kremlin and the war in Ukraine have been given jail sentences as long as 25 years. The four journalists were among the few reporters who had remained in Russia and covered sensitive topics including that of Mr. Navalny, a longstanding Kremlin critic who died in an Arctic prison colony February 2024. Ms. Favorskaya, who worked for a small independent news outlet, was accused of filming footage later used by Mr. Navalny's associates on their media platforms. A rare reporter to attend court hearings for Mr. Navalny shortly before his death, Ms. Favorskaya shot the last known video of him addressing court via a video link from prison the day before he died. She was arrested in March 2024. The Russian authorities later arrested the three other journalists and put all four on trial together. Mr. Kriger, one of the defendants, said he and others were accused of filming interviews on the street in Russia for Mr. Navalny's YouTube channel. Supporters greeted the four journalists with applause as they were led out of the courtroom after the ruling on Tuesday, according to the independent outlet Mediazona and several Russian bloggers allowed in for the sentencing. The Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement said the verdict was 'blatant testimony to Russian authorities' profound contempt for press freedom.' Allies of Mr. Navalny have refused to comment on any potential connection the journalists may have had to the Anti-Corruption Fund — but condemned the trial as part of a broader Kremlin crackdown on Mr. Navalny's supporters and on civil society. Leonid Volkov, Mr. Navalny's former chief of staff, said on social media that the four defendants had been jailed 'for the legal and peaceful profession of a journalist,' and called for solidarity with all political prisoners. Mr. Kriger, the youngest defendant at age 24, expressed hope as he was led out of the courtroom that justice would be served. 'Everything is going to be alright, guys,' he said, according to the independent news outlet Mediazona, 'Don't despair: Sooner or later, all of this will be over, and those who delivered the verdict for me will definitely go to jail themselves.'
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.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia sentences 4 journalists tied to Putin rival Navalny to nearly 6 years in prison
Four journalists were convicted of extremism on Tuesday by a Russian court and sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison for their ties to the country's deceased opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were accused of working with Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption, according to The Associated Press. The organization was outlawed in 2021 due to alleged extremist views, which led to a 19-year sentence for its leader, who died in an Arctic penal colony last year. All four journalists have maintained their innocence and say they were prosecuted for pursuing independent journalism. Their arrests came in 2024 following Moscow's crackdown on writers and activists who have detailed the arrests of Russian President Vladimir Putin's political critics and opponents. Both Favorskaya and Kriger provided coverage for the independent outlet SotaVision, while Gabov did freelance work for Reuters and Karelin documented stories as a freelance visual journalist for the AP. 'In our country, being an independent, honest, professional journalist and working with independent media are huge challenges, as there is a risk of going to prison, being killed, having big financial problems,' Kriger wrote for SotaVision while in pretrial detention. 'If all this were to be summarized, then the best expression would be 'to experience on your own skin all the charms of a repressive state,'' he added. Favorskaya at a previous public court appearance said she was being prosecuted for an article she wrote about Navalny's alleged abuse behind bars, according to the AP. 'Independent journalism is equated to extremism,' Gabov said in a statement to the outlet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
15-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Russia sentences 4 journalists tied to Putin rival Navalny to nearly 6 years in prison
Four journalists were convicted of extremism on Tuesday by a Russian court and sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison for their ties to the country's deceased opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin and Artyom Kriger were accused of working with Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption, according to the Associated Press. The organization was outlawed in 2021 due to alleged extremist views, which led to a 19-year sentence for its leader who died in an Arctic penal colony last year. All four journalists have maintained their innocence and say they were prosecuted for pursuing independent journalism. Their arrests came in 2024 following Moscow's crackdown on writers and activists who have detailed the arrests of Russian President Vladimir Putin's political critics and opponents. Both Favorskaya and Kriger provided coverage for the independent outlet SotaVision while Gabov did freelance work for Reuters and Karelin documented stories as a freelance visual journalist for the AP. 'In our country, being an independent, honest, professional journalist and working with independent media are huge challenges, as there is a risk of going to prison, being killed, having big financial problems,' Kriger wrote for SotaVision while in pretrial detention. 'If all this were to be summarized, then the best expression would be 'to experience on your own skin all the charms of a repressive state,'' he added. Favorskaya at a previous public court appearance said she was being prosecuted for an article she wrote about Navalny's alleged abuse behind bars, according to the AP. 'Independent journalism is equated to extremism,' Gabov said in a statement to the outlet.
