Russia: Nika Novak Arrested and Detained for Alleged Treason
Journalist and poet faces eight years in prison
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: December 25, 2023Update: February 21, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom 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. The vague nature of the charges and the lack of information surrounding Novak's case heightens concerns about potential misuse of legal mechanisms to suppress journalism and silence dissenting voices. We call for the dropping of all charges and her immediate release.
On December 25, 2023, Nika Novak was taken into custody and charged with "collaborating on a confidential basis with a foreign state" by Russian authorities in Moscow.
The court referred to Novak as a "representative of a foreign organization," without specifying which organization. The case is classified as "secret," with details undisclosed, raising serious questions about transparency and due process.
Novak is facing charges under recently enacted Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. The law makes it a criminal offense to engage in "confidential cooperation with a foreign state, international, or foreign organization to support activities explicitly directed against the security of Russia." Critics of the Kremlin argue that the wording is overly broad, potentially allowing authorities to investigate any Russian with foreign affiliations. Prosecutions under this legislation are rare, with fewer than 10 known instances, including a notable case against US Embassy employee Robert Shonov.
Novak faces a potential prison term of up to eight years if convicted.
On February 21, 2024 the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow extended Novak’s detention until May 25, 2024.
Novak, born in Krasnokamensk, previously served as the production editor of ChitaMedia, correspondent for ZabTV, and editor-in-chief of Zab.ru. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, she publicly expressed support for Russia and visited military personnel in Donbass. Since 2021, Novak has been leading the Chita organization "Gifted," known for organizing cultural events such as musical and poetry evenings.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has enacted numerous military censorship laws that have been used to target independent journalists and activists. In February 2023, Siberian journalist Maria Ponomarenko was sentenced to six years in prison for an Instagram post about Russian aggression in Mariupol, Ukraine. Two US journalists, Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich are currently in pre-trial detention, facing years in prison on trumped up charges because of their journalistic work.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom condemns the arrest and detention of Nika Novak. The Kremlin is continuously abusing legislation to target journalists and activists, this must stop. The serious charges and lengthy prison term facing Novak are deeply worrying. We call on the authorities in Moscow to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for Novak. All charges against her should be dropped and the journalist freed.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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