Russia: Authorities Escalate Transnational Repression by Opening 2nd Case Against Exiled Olesya Shmagun
WPF condemns the Kremlin’s relentless legal harassment of exiled journalists under “foreign agent” law
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: July 29, 2024
Women Press Freedom unequivocally condemns the Russian government's persistent legal harassment of exiled journalists through its draconian "foreign agent" law. Olesya Shmagun, an award-winning investigative journalist, is the latest victim of this campaign. This marks the eighth case in July alone targeting exiled Russian women journalists, an alarming escalation in transnational repression tactics employed by the Kremlin. Women Press Freedom expresses deep concern over this ongoing harassment and calls for an immediate end to these repressive measures aimed at silencing critical voices abroad. We stand in solidarity with Shmagun and her colleagues, who are enduring these unjust and politically motivated attacks.
On July 29, 2024, the Tushinsky District Court in Moscow initiated a new case against Olesya Shmagun for allegedly failing to submit a mandated “foreign agent” report.
This is the second time Shmagun has been prosecuted under this draconian law, which requires those designated as “foreign agents'' to submit detailed quarterly reports on their activities to the Russian Ministry of Justice. The Russian government has intensified its legal assault on journalists listed as foreign agents, with WPF documenting 13 such cases against women journalists in exile this year alone.
Shmagun was first added to the foreign agent register in 2021, and a previous case was opened against her in October 2023 for non-compliance with the law. Her designation as a foreign agent is part of a broader Kremlin strategy to muzzle criticism by branding independent journalists and media outlets as hostile entities.
Shmagun's career is marked by her commitment to investigative journalism. She has worked with Novaya Gazeta and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and she co-founded the independent news outlet iStories. She has been involved in several high-profile investigations, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Panama Papers expose. In 2021, she received the European Press Prize for uncovering the financial dealings of Vladimir Putin's inner circle. In 2023, she graduated with a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns Russia for its continuous persecution of exiled journalists like Olesya Shmagun. This legal harassment is part of a larger strategy of transnational repression, where governments extend their reach beyond national borders to stifle dissent. The frequent legal actions against exiled journalists create an environment of fear and intimidation, making it increasingly difficult for independent reporters to operate freely.
International solidarity and advocacy are needed to counteract these efforts to stifle dissent. We urge governments, media organizations, and human rights groups to unite to challenge these repressive tactics and support journalists like Shmagun who continue to defy the Kremlin’s attempts to intimidate them.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
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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