Two journalists who also work for Western news agencies have been arrested in Russia. The judiciary accuses them of “extremism”. They are said to have been active for the Navalny team.
Two Russian journalists who also work for Western media have been taken into custody in Russia. According to consistent media reports, Konstantin Gabow and Sergei Karelin are accused of participating in an “extremist organization.”
They are also said to have provided material for publications by the dead opposition politician Alexei Navalny. The pre-trial detention imposed on Saturday is initially valid until June.
Arrests in Murmansk and Moscow
Karelin is a cameraman who also worked for the US news agency Associated Press (AP). According to the AP, he was arrested in the Murmansk region of northern Russia. The news agency said it was very concerned about the arrest.
According to authorities, Gabow was also arrested on Saturday. According to media reports, he worked for the Russian television channels Moskva 24 and MIR, the Belarusian news agency Belsat and occasionally for the international news agency Reuters.
According to the Russian account, both are said to have provided video material for the YouTube channel “Navalny Live,” which is banned in Russia. It is one of the media projects founded by Kremlin opponent Navalny, who died in custody in February.
Repression against the media and opposition is growing
Since the death of Navalny and the re-election of President Vladimir Putin in March, the Russian state has once again increased its repression against opposition groups and independent media. At the same time, pressure is growing on foreign media reporting from Russia.
Last Friday, an employee of the Russian edition of Forbes magazine was arrested for allegedly discrediting the army. Also in custody is a journalist who filmed the last videos about Navalny before his death.
Its anti-corruption fund is currently causing a stir in Russia with a new documentary. It’s about the rampant corruption in the country in the 1990s under President Boris Yeltsin and Putin’s rise to power.