Four Russian journalists were sentenced to 5-1/2 years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of working for the banned Anti-Corruption Foundation of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artem Kriger denied the charges but faced prosecution for allegedly creating materials for the YouTube channel of Navalny’s foundation.
The trial came as Russia has intensified pressure on domestic and foreign reporters since its war in Ukraine began. Critics say the trial was aimed at intimidating the press and punishing journalists for doing their job. Reuters condemned the imprisonment, stating that journalists must be free to report the news without fear of harassment or harm.
Navalny’s death last year remains a contentious issue, with some accusing President Vladimir Putin of involvement, although Russia’s investigative committee concluded it was due to a “combination of diseases.” The Kremlin has rejected these claims. Journalists Kriger and Gabov, who work for independent outlets, expressed hope that they would be proud of their work.
The sentencing is the latest in a series of crackdowns on press freedom in Russia, with many seeing it as an attempt to silence opposition voices.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-journalists-jailed-5-12-years-over-navalny-links-2025-04-15