4 journalists accused of working for Kremlin Foe Alexei Navalny, who was convicted of extremism, sentenced to prison

On Tuesday, a Russian court led to four journalists to work in the anti -corruption group, founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny He was sentenced to 5/2 years in prison.

Antonina Favorskaya, Costanin Gabov, Sergey Carlin and Artum Crager were convicted of being involved with a group that was classified as extremist. The four maintained their innocence, on the pretext that they were tried for their jobs as journalists.

The closed experience on the doors was part of an unprecedented opposition campaign that reached an unprecedented scope after Moscow Send the forces to Ukraine In February 2022.

The authorities have targeted opposition figures, independent journalists, rights activists and ordinary Russians who criticize the Kremlin in the trial and imprisonment hundreds of imprisonment Pay thousands to flee the country.

Favorskaya and Krieger worked with Sotavision, an independent Russian news outlet covering protests and political trials. Gabov is an independent work product in multiple organizations, including Reuters. Karelin, an independent video journalist, did in Western media, including Associated Press.

The four journalists were accused of working with Navalny’s Anti -Corruption CorporationHe was appointed as an extremist and ban in 2021 in a move widely seen as political motives.

Navalny was the enemy of President Vladimir Putin, the most prominent and most prominent I participated unabated Against official corruption in Russia. Navalny He died in February 2024 In the colony of penalties in the Arctic during the service A. A 19 -year prison sentence In a number of charges, including the management of an extremist group, which it rejected as politically driven.

Favorskaya said in the appearance earlier in the court open to the public that she had been tried because of a story about the abuse of Navalny behind bars. Speaking to journalists from the defendant’s cage before the ruling, she also said that she was punished for help Organizing Navalny funeral.

Gabov said, in a final statement prepared by the court, which was published by the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, that the accusations against him were unfounded and the prosecution failed to prove it.

“I understand well … What kind of country I live in. Throughout history, Russia has never been different, nothing new in the current situation,” Gabov said in the statement. “Independent press is equivalent to extremism.”

In a statement, Carlin prepared for his final launching arguments as well Novaya JazitaHe said he agreed to conduct street interviews for popular politics, which is the YouTube channel founded by Navalny partners, while he was trying to provide his wife and a young child. He stressed that the channel was not prohibited as extremist and did not do anything illegal.

“Demo is a diluted circumstance. It is the criminals who need remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the sake of the sincere and white position with the press, for the sake of the love of my family and my country,” wrote in a separate letter to the court published by the perpetrator, in which he confirmed his feelings in capitalism programs.

“Only because I carried out my professional duties as an honest, unpretentious and independent journalist for 4 years 1/2,” Crager said, in a closure statement published by Sadafin, that he was imprisoned and added to the Russian financial intelligence record for extremists and terrorists.

Crager said after the ruling: “Do not despair, O comrades, sooner or later, it will end and those who handed over the sentence will go behind bars.”

The supporters who gathered in the court building chanted and praised them, as the four journalists were removed from the court hall after the ruling.

The memorial of the four Russian human rights group as political prisoners, among more than 900 others detained in the country. This number includes Mikhail Crager, Artum Crager, a Moscow -based activist who was arrested in 2022 and is serving a seven -year prison sentence.

Mikhail Crager was convicted of justifying terrorism and inciting hatred for Facebook comments that expressed her desire to “hang” Putin.

The four journalists are not the only people associated with Navalny who faced charges of the Russian legal system. In January, three lawyers who defended Navalney were convicted of participating in an “extremist organization” and sentenced them to prison. Lawyers helped transfer Navalny prison data to the world before his death. Vadim Kobzev, the most amazing team members in the team, got the prison sentence for 5 and a half years. Alexei Leverstter was sentenced to five years in prison, and Igor Sergonin was sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison.

In July 2024, five months after the death of Navalny, Russia Arrest His wife, Yulia Navalnaya. The country accused Navalnaya participating in an “extremist organization”. Navalnaya, who lives in Germany and was appointed President of the Human Rights Corporation in July 2024, mocked social media decision.