Six journalists working for independent media outlets in Russia were arrested in a span of just a few hours this week, coinciding with the anniversary of American reporter Evan Gershkovich’s detention in Yekaterinburg. Among the journalists was Antonina Favorskaya, who covered the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny and worked for the independent Russian media outlet SOTA Vision. Favorskaya was accused of “extremist activities” due to her coverage of Navalny and his work, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Evan Gershkovich marked one year in detention in Russia after being charged with espionage following his arrest. The Wall Street Journal reporter, whose charges were denied by both himself and the US government, was the first journalist to face such accusations since the Cold War. Despite the lack of evidence provided by the Russian government to support the claims against him, Gershkovich remained detained.
Favorskaya gained attention for filming Navalny’s last video before his death, where he appeared at a court hearing via video link from the penal colony where he was serving his sentence. The Russian Investigative Committee, akin to the FBI in the US, requested Favorskaya’s arrest for “participating in an extremist organization.” Over the past two years, Favorskaya extensively covered Navalny’s court hearings, visited the penal colonies where he was incarcerated, and monitored developments at his burial site.
The arrests of the six journalists, including Favorskaya, were announced by RSF, who condemned the escalating persecution of independent journalists and media in Russia. Jeanne Cavelier, head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, criticized the arbitrary arrests, violence, threats, and searches conducted by the authorities against the journalists. Favorskaya was detained while being released after a 10-day detention in Moscow for “disobeying the police,” alongside journalists Alexandra Astakhova and Anastasia Musayeva, who were subsequently involved in the case as witnesses.
The rapid series of arrests of journalists in Russia has raised concerns about the increasing crackdown on independent media outlets. The targeting of journalists for covering opposition figures like Navalny reflects a broader trend of silencing dissenting voices in the country. The lack of transparency and accountability in the charges brought against journalists, such as accusations of “extremist activities,” raises questions about media freedom and freedom of expression in Russia. The international community, including RSF, has voiced condemnation of these actions and called for the release of the detained journalists.
