In a chilling blow to press freedom and political dissent in Russia, a Moscow court has sentenced four independent journalists to five and a half years in prison each for alleged connections to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny's banned “extremist” organization.
The convicted journalists — Maria Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Ilya Gabov, and Viktor Kriger — were tried behind closed doors, raising serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the judicial process. The trial, which began in October 2024, concluded this week with a verdict that international observers and human rights groups are calling deeply unjust and politically motivated.
All four journalists deny the charges, which prosecutors claim stem from their alleged involvement in producing content and sharing information associated with Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), designated as an extremist group by Russian authorities in 2021. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, their supposed “crimes” involved “facilitating extremist activity” — a charge increasingly weaponized against critics of the Kremlin.
The ruling comes just weeks after the mysterious death of Navalny in a Siberian prison in February 2025, which sparked international outrage and renewed scrutiny of Russia’s authoritarian policies. Analysts believe the sentencing reflects a broader strategy by President Vladimir Putin’s administration to stifle any remnants of Navalny’s influence and silence independent media voices.
Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders have condemned the verdict, calling it a blatant attack on journalistic freedom and a violation of basic human rights. “This is a devastating moment for press freedom in Russia,” said Jeanne Cavelier, Head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk. “The Kremlin is sending a clear message: any dissent — even through journalism — will be crushed.”
Despite growing pressure from Western governments and rights organizations, the Russian government continues to tighten its grip on media, civil society, and opposition figures, prompting fears of a return to full-blown Soviet-style repression.
The international community has called for the immediate release of Favorskaya, Karelin, Gabov, and Kriger, demanding accountability for the ongoing crackdown on journalists and pro-democracy advocates in Russia.
As the global spotlight remains fixed on the Kremlin’s aggressive censorship, these journalists now face years behind bars for doing what many across the world consider a fundamental democratic right — telling the truth.
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