Russian journalists arrested on 'extremism' charges linked to Navalny group
Two Russian journalists have been apprehended on 'extremism' allegations, with claims of affiliation with a organization established by the deceased Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny.
Two Russian journalists have been arrested on charges of "extremism" and are being accused of being associated with a group founded by the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin are facing allegations of creating content for Navalny's popular YouTube channel, "NavalnyLIVE," known for its videos exposing corruption within the Kremlin that have gained millions of views.
Russian authorities have labeled Navalny and his organizations as "extremist" following Navalny's death in an Arctic prison in February. Many members of his team have faced imprisonment, while others now live in exile.
Gabov, as per Moscow's Basmanny District Court press service, was reportedly part of creating photo and video content for a YouTube channel. He was taken into custody on Saturday and is set to be held until June 27.
The court mentioned that Gabov works as a producer for Reuters news agency, which has been active in Russia even after the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. CNN has reached out to Reuters for a statement.
Journalist Sergey Karelin appears in court in Russia's Murmansk region, April 27, 2024.
Journalist Sergey Karelin appears in court in Russia's Murmansk region, April 27, 2024.
AP
Karelin, who has dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, was arrested in Russia’s northwest Murmansk region on Saturday. He is accused of “participation in an extremist organization.” Karelin had worked for various outlets, including the Associated Press (AP) and German publication Deutsche Welle (DW), until DW was banned in Russia in 2022.
A photo from the AP showed Karelin sitting in a glass cage in a Murmansk court on Saturday.
The detention of the pair is happening during a time when Russia is cracking down more on journalists and critics of the Kremlin. This is because President Vladimir Putin is trying to suppress any form of disagreement even more strongly since the invasion of Ukraine.
Forbes journalist Sergey Mingazov was also put under house arrest on Saturday. This happened after he was taken into custody for supposedly spreading false information about the Russian army, according to state media RIA Novosti.
Navalny, who was serving a more-than-30-year sentence on extremism charges, was Putin’s strongest political rival until his passing in a penal colony. His family and followers have blamed Putin for his death, though the Kremlin has denied any involvement.
Editor's P/S:
The arrest of two Russian journalists, Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin, on charges of "extremism" is a chilling reminder of the Kremlin's relentless crackdown on dissent. Gabov, a producer for Reuters, and Karelin, a journalist with dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, are accused of working for the YouTube channel "NavalnyLIVE," which has exposed corruption within the Kremlin. The labeling of Navalny's organizations as "extremist" is a blatant attempt to silence criticism and suppress any challenge to Putin's authority.
The detention of Gabov and Karelin is part of a broader pattern of repression against journalists and critics in Russia. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Putin has intensified his efforts to control the flow of information and silence any voices that question his actions. The arrest of these journalists sends a clear message that the Kremlin will not tolerate any form of dissent, and that those who dare to speak out will face severe consequences.
