4 Russian journalists linked to late Kremlin critic Navalny sentenced at Moscow courtroom

CNN
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4 journalists linked to the late Russian opposition chief Alexey Navalny had been sentenced to spend 5 years and 6 months in a penal colony on Tuesday, after they had been accused of working for a banned group run by the Kremlin critic, Russian state media TASS has reported.

The reporters – Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov and Artem Kriger – have been on trial behind closed doorways since October on fees, which they deny, of belonging to an “extremist” group established by Navalny in 2011.

Prosecutors claimed the 4 had produced materials for the YouTube channel of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis (FBK), in accordance to Reuters, which is prohibited beneath the nation’s “overseas brokers legislation.” Amnesty Worldwide has warned that the “repressive” laws is an “assault on freedom of affiliation” in Russia, the place Moscow has more and more tried to stifle journalists beneath censorship legal guidelines.

In February, mourners gathered at Navalny’s graveside within the Russian capital to mark the primary anniversary of his demise in jail. Dozens of individuals had been detained at memorials, in line with Human Rights Watch (HRW) and different rights teams.

Over his storied political profession, Navalny generated a number of the largest anti-government demonstrations in recent times, and unfurled corruption at Russia’s highest seat of energy, beneath the FBK.

Navalny died suddenly on the age of 47 on February 16, 2024, whereas serving a 19-year sentence on extremism fees he denied. On the time, Russia’s jail service claimed he “felt unwell after a stroll.” However Navalny’s spouse, Yulia Navalnaya, and former US President Joe Biden have lengthy held Russian President Vladimir Putin chargeable for his demise. Moscow has rebuffed these allegations.

Authorities in Russia have since tried to “erase Navalny’s political legacy” by their “in depth arsenal of repressive instruments,” in line with HRW – which known as the arrests on the primary anniversary of his demise “simply the tip of the iceberg within the Kremlin’s continued crackdown on his supporters.”