Russian journalists closed for more than 5 years due to the alleged linked relationship POLICY NEWS

The Russian court sentenced four journalists on five and a half years in prison after condemning “extremism” associated with their alleged work with the organization founded by Leader from Kanas Alexey Navalny.

Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin and Artyom Kriger were found guilty on Tuesday Moscow Nagatinsky District Court cooperating with a group appointed as an extremist of Russian authorities.

All four deny charges insist that they were punished for performing their journalistic work.

The verdict is the latest chapter in Russian moving cracks in disagreement – an effort just increased since Moscow launched its Full Invasion in Ukraine In February 2022. years.

Authorities aggressively moved against critics of Kremlin, including political opponents, human rights defenders and independent journalists. Hundreds are closed, and thousands fled the land in fear of prosecution.

Favorska and Kriger were both associated with Sotavision, a media outlet known for the documentation of protests and court proceedings. Gabov, a free manufacturer, has collaborated with several international media groups, including the news agency Reuters. Karelin, a free video journalist, contributed to the Associated News News agency.

Prosecutors accused four participation in the Morsalny anti-corruption foundation, which was prohibited and marked extremists in 2021. – a move that critics convicted as politically motivated.

Navalny, a long time is seen as President Vladimir Putinov most pitShe received prominence through his investigations in state corruption. He died in February 2024. year, at the age of 47, while he served a 19-year-old penalty in a distant Arctic prison colony, convicted of the charges that many said they were designed to silence him.

“I am in jail for my work”

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 cages of the accused before the verdict, she also said that she was punished for helping organizing 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.”

In the Karelin statement, he prepared for his final words published by Novaya Gazeta, agreed to have agreed to street interviews for popular politics, and the YouTube channel founded by the Burial Associates, and in an attempt to provide a wife and a young child. He stressed that the channel was not banned as “extremistically” and did nothing 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, was closed and added to the register “extremist and terrorists from the Russian financial intelligence service” just because I conscientiously performed his professional duties as an honest, injurious and independent journalist for 4 1/2 years. “

“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.

“Everyone will complain” their sentences, Ivan Novikov, a lawyer who defends Kriger said.

“The sentence is illegal and unfair,” said another lawyer for Kriger, Yelena Sheremetyev.

“No evidence presented that these guys committed any crimes, their guilt was not proven,” said Gabol’s lawyer Irina Biryukova.