Russia: Exiled Ekaterina Fomina Charged for Spreading “False Information” About Army
Journalist facing trial for her investigative reporting into Russian war crimes in Ukraine
Location: Russia
Date: January 10, 2024
Women Press Freedom condemns the unjust criminal charges against Ekaterina Fomina, a distinguished investigative journalist, for exposing Russian war crimes in Ukraine. The journalist, who lives in exile, is being accused of spreading "false information" about the Russian army. Women Press Freedom strongly condemns these unjust charges, seeing them as a Kremlin intimidation tactic to silence truthful reporting on atrocities perpetrated by its army in Ukraine. We demand the charges against Fomina be dropped and an end to the harassment of Russian journalists in exile.
WPF is deeply disturbed by the arrest of Nadezhda Kevorkova, a 65-year-old journalist known for her coverage of the Middle East and the North Caucasus.
WPF strongly condemns the unjust charges against Derya Us and Nurcan Yalçın who were arrested by police for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization.
On January 10, 2024, Russian state-run outlet TASS reported the Investigative Committee had launched a criminal probe into lauded investigative journalist Ekaterina Fomina. The authorities are accusing her of spreading false information about the army following her reporting of Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Fomina's investigation, titled "Executions, looting, and criminal orders. The firsthand truth about the war," exposed alleged atrocities committed by soldiers of the 64th Motorised Rifle Brigade of Russia’s Armed Forces.
The former correspondent of Important Stories (IStories) produced a report detailing testimonies, including a confession from Guard Corporal Daniil Frolkin, that implicated the Russian military in the execution of civilians in the village of Andriivka, Ukraine.
Russian state news claims that Frolkin provided Fomina with inaccurate information about the actions of the Russian army in exchange for not disclosing compromising information about him. Fomina refutes these allegations, asserting that she had no compromising information about Frolkin and that he voluntarily confessed to the murder during their interaction. She maintains that her reporting was based on facts obtained from open sources and firsthand accounts.
Fromina, who now lives outside Russia, could potentially face up to 10 years in prison if convicted upon returning to her home country.
"I don't care how the Russian Federation labels me because I know that the Russian government and authorities are the real terrorists and enemies of the people, not us," Fomina told VOA in a report on exiled Russian journalists. Fomina, like many of her colleagues from independent outlets in Russia, was left with little choice but to flee Russia following the increasing pressure coming from the Kremlin after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The journalist, who began her career reporting for Novaya Gazeta, says she will continue to report despite all the pressures, criminal cases, and intimidation tactics exerted by the Russian state.
"The least we can do now for Ukraine, considering that the country of my citizenship began the war, is to investigate all crimes that our fellow citizens committed," says Fomina.
In 2023, Women Press Freedom documented numerous cases of transnational repression violations against journalists globally. By far, the largest violator was Russia. The Kremlin is increasingly going after exiled journalists who have fled the country and continue to report. They do this by adding journalists to wanted lists, sentencing them in absentia, intimidating their families who remain in Russia, and even attempting to poison them. The goal is to silence these dissenters and critical journalists who continue to oppose Putin, his government, and the war in Ukraine.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the unjust criminal charges levied against Ekaterina Fomina, which are in retaliation for her investigative journalism exposing the reprehensible actions of Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Criminal charges against her must be dropped.
We call upon nations to provide sanctuary to persecuted journalists targeted by the Kremlin to guarantee their safety and security. Russia's consistent flouting of international norms and borders underscores the urgent need for protective measures for exiled journalists, enabling them to continue their essential reporting safely from their places of refuge.
WPF is deeply disturbed by the arrest of Nadezhda Kevorkova, a 65-year-old journalist known for her coverage of the Middle East and the North Caucasus.
WPF is deeply troubled by the recent events unfolding in St. Petersburg, Russia, where local authorities have raided the home of journalist Ksenia Klochkova.
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WPF strongly condemns Russia for its missile strike in Zaporizhzhya, which resulted in the injury of journalists Olha Zvonaryova and Kira Oves; Zvonaryova required hospitalization.
The recent attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where journalist Yulia Boyko was seriously injured as a result of a Russian drone strike, highlights a grave and unacceptable trend.
Police raided home and re-arrested SOTAVision reporter Antonina Favorskaya, while RusNews reporter Olga Komleva was also taken into custody.
WPF condemns the ongoing persecution of Yevgenia Baltatarova by the Russian government. Baltatarova, a Russian journalist forced to live in exile, has endured relentless scrutiny and harassment for her reporting.
WPF is outraged by SotaVision journalist Antonina Favorskaïa’s ten-day sentence in prison for allegedly refusing to comply with police officers' demands; the arrest is clearly a targeted reprisal for her extensive reporting on Alexei Navalny.
WPF condemns the Russian government's recent imposition of personal sanctions on more than 200 American citizens, including government employees, academics, and notably, journalists — citing what it perceives as unjustified and hostile actions by the United States government.
WPF vehemently condemns the recent actions taken by Moscow-installed authorities in Crimea against Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a Crimean Tatar journalist and activist, under the spurious charges of "misuse of freedom of mass media."
WPF stands resolute in its condemnation of the recent detentions of journalists, activists, and mourners across Russia, following the tributes paid to Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who died in prison under dubious circumstances.
WPF strongly condemns the Kremlin’s persistent efforts to target and harass journalists and activists in exile.
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Almost a year after being convicted for “disseminating fake news,” a court in Kemerovo rejects Ponomarenko’s appeal against her verdict and sentence.
CFWIJ and WPF expresses deep concern over the deliberate targeting of independent media and investigative journalists by anonymous Telegram channels openly aligning with the government.
WPF strongly condemns the detention and late-night raid on the home of revered Crimean Tatar journalist Zera Bekirova.
CFWIJ and WPF stands in solidarity with Viorica Tataru and her cameraman Andrei Captarenco, who were unjustly detained by Transnistria's secret services in the breakaway region of Moldova.
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Asya Kazantseva has left Russia due to what she describes as a "wave of hate" from pro-war groups and government officials over her anti-war views.
WPF condemns the unjust criminal charges against Ekaterina Fomina, a distinguished investigative journalist, for exposing Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
CFWIJ and WPF strongly denounces the Kremlin’s recent decision to impose an entry ban on Moldovan journalists Stela Untila and Lorena Bogza.
CFWIJ and WPF vehemently condemns the recent actions of the Russian Justice Ministry, which has recklessly and unlawfully published the personal details, including home addresses, of four individuals labeled as 'foreign agents'.
CFWIJ and WPF expresses deep concern and condemnation over the arrest of Nika Novak, the former editor-in-chief of the Chita online publication Zab.ru, in Moscow.
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Alsu Kurmasheva, the unjustly detained American-Russian journalist, faces additional charges of spreading alleged "fakes" against the Russian army.
Imprisoned Siberian journalist Maria Ponomarenko, already serving a six-year sentence for alleged dissemination of misinformation about the Russian army, is now facing additional criminal charges.
In a concerted effort to address the plight of detained journalists in Russia, The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom join fourteen leading press freedom and First Amendment organizations to call upon U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for decisive action.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom are deeply concerned and troubled by the recent developments in Russia involving the prosecution of Masha Gessen, an acclaimed Russian-American journalist and author.
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