A Moscow court has convicted four former journalists – Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin, and Artyom Kriger – of extremism, sentencing them to 5.5 years in prison. The conviction is linked to their coverage of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny.
The journalists denied the charges, stating they only reported on the foundation’s activities and did not work for it. Gabov and Karelin previously worked for DW’s Moscow bureau. DW Director General Peter Limbourg condemned the verdict, calling Russia “a state that disregards the rule of law.”
Detained in the spring of 2024, the journalists described inhumane prison conditions in letters. They reported overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of basic necessities like a bed or pillow. The conditions are considered torture by Karelin’s lawyer.
Russia has been cracking down on dissent since sending troops to Ukraine in February 2022. DW ranks Russia 162nd out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index due to its virtually non-existent media freedom. At least 37 journalists have been murdered as a direct result of their work under President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/russia-jails-former-dw-journalists-over-navalny-ties/a-72182640