Russia: CFWIJ Condemns The Legal Harassment Of Journalist Mariya Nuykina
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: April 19, 2021
Mariya Nuykina was detained, arrested, and fined by Russian police authorities for covering protest movements. In response, Mariya filed a court appeal against the convictions. If accepted, the appeal will protect her from similar state persecution in the future and clear her of all charges. However, Mariya believes the court is unlikely to overturn the charges. CFWIJ stands in solidarity with Mariya and urges the judicial authorities to consider the journalist’s appeal.
Mariya Nuykina, a correspondent with the independent newspaper Arsenyevskiye Vesti, was detained by the Russian police on March 19 for covering a protest rally in Khabarovsk. The demonstrations were organized by critics of the state who were supporters of the former governor. The next day, Mariya was convicted for failing to comply with police orders and sentenced to three days in jail. Mariya was released on March 22, having completed her sentence.
However, according to Mariya, this was the second time she was arrested for her coverage of the same protest. Previously, the police detained her on January 29. Having already spent a night in state custody, Mariya was convicted the following day for disturbing traffic and sentenced to another day in prison. While she was technically released on January 30, the police detained her again for her coverage of an earlier protest. For this, she was again sentenced to a day in jail and fined 10,000 rubles ($131 USD).
Given the repeated attempts to intimidate her, Mariya decided to file an appeal against her convictions. She admits she does not have much hope since an earlier appeal, filed in January, was rejected by the court. This time, Mariya said she plans to pursue her case to the National Appeals Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Galina Arapova, a media lawyer, believes that while the appeal could clear Mariya’s criminal record, it is not likely to succeed.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the Russian state’s persistent legal harassment of the journalist. The right to peaceful protest and free press is necessary to empower the civil society of any country. These repeated convictions demonstrate the government’s repressive tactics to silence dissenting voices. It is imperative that the court accept Mariya’s appeal and clear her of previous criminal charges for coverage of political rallies.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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