Tue Apr 15 17:38:01 UTC 2025: ## Four Journalists Sentenced to 5.5 Years in Russia for Alleged Ties to Navalny’s Group

**Moscow, Russia** – A Moscow court sentenced four journalists to five and a half years in prison each on Tuesday, convicting them of “extremism” for alleged ties to Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF). Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin, and Artyom Kriger, all denied the charges, claiming they were punished for their journalistic work.

The journalists, who worked for outlets including SotaVision, Reuters, and the Associated Press, were accused of collaborating with the ACF, which was outlawed and labeled extremist in 2021. Prosecutors linked their work to the now-banned organization, despite the journalists maintaining their innocence and arguing their work was purely journalistic. Favorskaya specifically cited a report on Navalny’s prison treatment and involvement in his funeral as contributing factors to her conviction. Gabov and Karelin detailed in their closing statements how their work, including street interviews for a YouTube channel associated with Navalny, led to their prosecution. Kriger stated that he was imprisoned solely for carrying out his professional duties.

The verdict is the latest in a series of crackdowns on dissent in Russia, intensifying since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Hundreds have been jailed, and thousands have fled the country, as the Kremlin aggressively targets critics, including political opponents, human rights defenders, and independent journalists. Navalny himself, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in prison in February 2024 after receiving a 19-year sentence on charges widely seen as politically motivated.

The journalists’ lawyers denounced the verdict as unlawful and unjust, stating that no evidence was presented to prove the journalists’ guilt. They confirmed that all four will appeal the sentences. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse, chanting and applauding the journalists as they were led away. The case highlights the increasingly restrictive environment for independent journalism and freedom of expression within Russia.

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