The Krasnoflotsky District Court in Russia has placed Sergei Mingazov, a journalist for Forbes, under house arrest, according to Russian state-owned media reports. The charge against Mingazov stems from his Telegram account where he’s accused of spreading “fake” news and criticizing Russian military operations in Ukraine. The posts in question involved allegations made in April 2022 that Russian forces were responsible for civilian deaths in Bucha, triggering global outrage.
Mingazov’s charges are based on violating Article 207.3(2)(e) of the Russian Criminal Code, which prohibits the “public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation motivated by political hatred or enmity”. Mingazov’s home was searched by authorities as part of the investigation, and his personal electronic devices confiscated.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Other journalists who have criticized Russian operations in Ukraine face similar situations. For instance, RusNews reporter Roman Ivanov was sentenced to seven years in prison for his outspoken views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Opposition politician Ilya Yashin also received a sentence of 8.5 years on similar grounds.
Over the years, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has observed a worrying pattern in Russia. This includes severe sentences and even instances of torture against journalists, coupled with the increased usage of fines and short detentions order to intimidate media professionals. RSF has also voiced concern over the arbitrary listing of media outlets as “foreign agents”, leading to additional legal and bureaucratic hurdles for them. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, independent journalists have faced increased risks, forcing many to seek refuge abroad.
For more details, this development was originally reported on JURIST – News.