Antonina Favorskaya, a Russian journalist who covered the trial of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has been detained in Moscow on charges of extremism.
Favorskaya, also known as Antonina Kravtsova, was instructed by a Moscow court on Friday to stay in custody while an investigation is conducted, until at least May 28, as reported by The Associated Press. The Associated Press provided this information.
Mediazona, an independent news website, stated that the journalist and her lawyer opposed the decision to conduct the hearing in private. The publication shared a video of Favorskaya being forcibly removed by an official. They posted a video on the internet. She is accused of gathering material, creating and editing videos, and producing publications for Navalny’s organization, which has been branded as extremist by authorities. She faces charges for involvement in an extremist group, which carries a possible six-year prison sentence, according to the news wire.
Navalny, known for being one of the most vocal critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, passed away in the country’s most secure prison in February. He was serving a 19-year prison sentence for extremism. President Biden and other global leaders condemned his death, alleging that Putin was responsible.
Favorskaya was initially arrested on March 17 while laying flowers at Navalny’s grave. She spent 10 days in jail for allegedly defying the police, and was later arrested again, leading to her court appearance on Friday, as reported by the AP. According to Kira Yarmysh, spokesperson for Navalny, Favorskaya did not publish anything on Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation platform. The reporter was detained by authorities in March for laying flowers on Navalny’s grave. She was held for 10 days for allegedly disobeying the police, and was subsequently charged again, resulting in her court appearance on Friday, according to the AP. Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokesperson, stated that Favorskaya did not publish anything on Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation platform. Reporters Without Borders disclosed that Favorskaya is among a group of six journalists who were apprehended in Russia within a few hours.
Her hearing took place on the one-year anniversary of the detention of Evan Gershkovich, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, who is awaiting trial in Moscow.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Antonina Favorskaya, a Russian journalist who covered the trial of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, has been jailed in Moscow on extremism charges. Favorskaya, identified also as Antonina Kravtsova, was ordered by a Moscow court Friday to remain in custody pending an investigation and trial until at least May 28, The Associated Press reported.… Yarmysh posted in Russian, translated to English. “There is no need to be surprised, but what darkness.”
The organization Reporters Without Borders said Favorskaya is among a group of six reporters who were arrested in Russia within a span of a few hours.
Her hearing came on the one-year anniversary of the detention of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, who awaits trial in Moscow.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
