4 journalists Accused of working for Kremlin enemy Aleksei Navalu convicted for extremism, sentenced to prison

The Russian court on Tuesday was convicted four extremism journalists for the work for fighting corruption founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny and sentenced to every 5 1/2 years in prison.

Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin and Artyom Kriger were found guilty to involvement with a group that was marked as extremists. All four sustained their innocence, arguing that they were prosecuted for performing their jobs as journalists.

The trial of the closed door was part of an relentless decay on the disagreement that reached an unseen scales after Moscow Troops sent in Ukraine In February 2022. years.

Authorities targeted opposition figures, independent journalists, rights and ordinary rousing activists critical to Kremlin with the Prosecution, in the prison of hundreds and encourage thousands of escaping land.

Favorska and Kriger worked with Sotavision, independent Russian news covering protests and political trials. Gabov is a free manufacturer who worked for several organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, a free video journalist, has done a job for western media, including a connected journey.

Four journalists are accused of working with NAVALNY Anti-Corruption Foundationwhich was marked as extremistically and forbidden in 2021. in the move widely seen as politically motivated.

Navalny was the most attentive and most important enemy Vladimir Putin and tireless campaigns Against official corruption in Russia. Navalny died in February 2024 In the Arctic Criminal Colony while serving 19-year sentence At higher charges, including the launch of an extremist group, which refused as politically guided.

Favorskaya is open to the public at the earlier appearance that he was prosecuted for the story she did for abuse Navalny faced behind bars. Talking to journalists from the accused cages before the verdict, she said and was punished for help Organize Navalny’s Funeral.

Gabov, in the final statement prepared for the court who published the Independent Newspapers of Novaya Gazeta, said the charges against him were unfounded, and the Prosecution would not prove not to prove them.

“I understand perfectly well … in which 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 with extremism.”

Karelin’s statement prepared for the final words that also published Novaya GazetaHe said he agreed to do street interviews for the popular politics, YouTube channel founded by Navalny’s associates, and trying to secure his wife and young child. He stressed that the channel was not banned as extremists and did not do anything illegal.

“The remors are considered mitigating circumstance. These are criminals that must have remorse for what they did. But in prison for their work, for the love of my family and the country,” he emphasized his sense of capital letters.

Kriger, in the final statement published by Sotavision, he was closed and added to the lawsuit and terrorists of Russian financial intelligence “just because I conscientiously performed his professional duties as an honest, non-independent journalist 4 1/2.”

“Don’t despair not despair, sooner or later, those who submitted the sentence will come out behind the bars,” Kriger said after the verdict.

Supporters who gathered in the building of the court who sang and applauded because four journalists took the courtroom after the judgment.

The Russian human rights memorial marked all four as political prisoners, among more than 900 others held in the country. This number includes Mikhail Kriger, Artyom Kriger’s uncle, Moscow activist who was arrested in 2022. years and supports a seven-year prison sentence.

Mikhail Kriger was convicted of justifying terrorism and encouraging hate over Facebook comments in which he expressed the desire “to hang” Putin.

Four journalists are not the only people associated with naval who faced accusations from the Russian legal system. In January, the convicted three lawyers who defended Navalsans were convicted of participating in the “extremist organization” and sentenced to prison. Lawyers helped transferring items in Navalny in the world before his death. Vadim Kobzev, the most natural member of the team, received a fine of 5 1/2 years. Alexey Lipster was sentenced to five years, and Igor Surgunin was sentenced to 3 1/2 years.

In July 2024. Five months after the death cover, Russia was recorded issued an arrest warrant for his wife, Yulia Navalnaya. The country accused Navalnaya to participate in the “extremist organization.” Navalnaya, who lives in Germany and is named the Chair of the Human Rights Foundation in July 2024. years, the decision on social media said.