Moscow, Russia – In a verdict widely condemned by press freedom advocates, a Moscow court on Tuesday sentenced four journalists to five and a half years in prison for allegedly collaborating with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the banned organization founded by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The journalists — Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artyom Kriguer — were convicted of “extremism” for their alleged involvement in producing journalistic content for YouTube channels associated with Navalny’s movement.
The sentencing took place at Nagatinsky Zaton District Court, where the defendants listened to the ruling from inside a glass courtroom cell. Initially, prosecutors had sought five years and 11 months of imprisonment for each.
Despite the closed nature of much of the trial, dozens of family members, friends, and fellow journalists were permitted to attend the final hearing — many of whom gathered outside the courthouse to show their support.
“To Be Honest Is a Crime in Putin’s Russia”
Following the sentencing, Artyom Kriguer, speaking defiantly through the courtroom glass, told supporters:
“Everything will be fine, guys. Don’t despair. Sooner or later, all this will be over — and those who convicted me will go to jail.”
He added last week that “to be an honest and professional journalist — and not a pitiful propagandist — is a crime and an act of extremism in Putin’s Russia.”
Kriguer’s girlfriend told reporters the verdict would be appealed, affirming that “the struggle is not over.”
Targeted for Covering Navalny’s Work
None of the four journalists were official members of the FBK, which has been labeled an extremist organization by Russian authorities. They were arrested between March and June 2024, accused of producing material covering FBK’s investigations and public campaigns.
Despite their limited journalistic involvement — mostly covering rallies, legal proceedings, and political commentary — prosecutors argued that their reporting alone constituted participation in extremist activities.
Favorskaya, a correspondent for SOTAvision, was the first to be detained in March. In April, Karelin (Associated Press) and Gabov (Reuters) were arrested, followed by Kriguer in June, also from SOTAvision.
Gabov, speaking before the verdict, said, “Even from behind bars, you have to talk about Russian events and problems from Russia. It’s difficult to work in such extreme conditions, but it’s possible.”
Navalny’s Shadow Still Looms
The ruling is the latest chapter in the Russian government’s sustained crackdown on dissenting voices in the wake of Alexei Navalny’s death in February 2024, under murky circumstances while imprisoned in a remote Arctic penal colony. His family, supporters, and Western governments have blamed the Kremlin for his death and accused President Vladimir Putin of thwarting a possible prisoner exchange that might have saved his life.
Tuesday’s sentencing reinforces fears that journalistic activity critical of the Kremlin is now treated as a criminal act under Russian law, particularly if associated with opposition figures.
As the four journalists prepare to begin their sentences, press freedom organizations worldwide have condemned the verdict and called for their immediate release, warning of an increasingly dangerous climate for independent journalism in Russia.
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