Russia: Charged with Extremism for Navalny Reporting, Antonina Favorskaya Faces Extended Detention
Women Press Freedom denounces persecution of Favorskaya, demands her immediate release
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: May 21, 2024
Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned about the ongoing detention and legal proceedings against Antonina Favorskaya, a journalist with SOTAvision. Favorskaya is facing charges of “extremism” directly linked to her journalistic work covering Navalny’s trials and documenting alleged abuses by the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). Her latest hearing was marred by legal irregularities, with Favorskaya’s lawyer not informed about the hearing, leaving the journalist to be represented by a state-appointed attorney. We demand Russian authorities ensure Favorskaya has access to her chosen legal counsel, uphold her rights as a journalist, and conduct judicial processes transparently. Antonina Favorskaya must be released immediately, and all charges against her dropped.
Ultra-Orthodox community members throw bottles and garbage, spit on the journalist, and call her and colleagues “impure.”
Incident occurred while journalists were covering press conference of Democratic Party’s Elly Schlein.
Russian military forces detained Zhanna Kyseliova, editor of the Kakhovska Zoria newspaper, on June 27, 2024, in Kakhovka, Kherson, following a raid on her apartment.
On May 21, 2024, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended the pre-trial detention of SOTAvision journalist Antonina Favorskaya until August 3, 2024.
Favorskaya was initially detained on March 17, 2024, near the Brateevo police station shortly after laying flowers at the grave of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. She was first arrested for 10 days for alleged disobedience to a police officer.
Upon completing this administrative arrest, she was immediately re-detained as a suspect in a criminal case related to her journalistic work.
Authorities allege her involvement with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), an organization linked to Alexei Navalny and classified as extremist by Russian authorities. Her work exposing abuses by the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) is also being used to incriminate the journalist.
Favorskaya has extensively covered the late opposition leader and his activism, including his court hearings, and reportedly filmed the last known video of Navalny before his death. Navalny's spokeswoman asserts that Favorskaya did not post any content on FBK platforms.
During her latest closed-door court hearing, Favorskaya was represented by a court-appointed lawyer. Her contracted lawyer, Fyodor Sirosh, was conspicuously absent and claims he was not notified about the hearing. Favorskaya expressed confusion and concern over the absence of her chosen legal representative. In court, Favorskaya invoked Article 51 of the Russian Constitution, which protects individuals from self-incrimination. Her request to interact with journalists was denied.
Since the beginning of the year, three women journalists, including Favorskaya, Olga Komleva, and Nadezhda Kevorkova, have been placed in pre-trial detention in Russia. Several others have been briefly detained while covering memorials for Navalny or reporting on women-led anti-war demonstrations. Russian-American Alsu Kurmasheva remains behind bars since her arrest in October 2023.
Women Press Freedom denounces the bogus extremism charges against Antonina Favorskaya and demands her unconditional release. We believe this is a retaliatory act by the Kremlin targeting Favorskaya for her extensive coverage of Alexei Navalny. Russian authorities are not only unjustly detaining Favorskaya but also impeding her right to due process. Favorskaya must be guaranteed access to her chosen legal counsel, and all procedural norms must be strictly followed. The judicial process must continue openly and transparently, allowing public and media access to court hearings. Favorskaya must be freed from jail immediately.
Russian military forces detained Zhanna Kyseliova, editor of the Kakhovska Zoria newspaper, on June 27, 2024, in Kakhovka, Kherson, following a raid on her apartment.
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WPF strongly condemns the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs' issuance of a search warrant for the exiled television host Tatyana Lazareva.
WPF condemns in the strongest terms the Russian Foreign Ministry's decision to revoke the accreditation of Austrian journalist Maria Knips-Witting and order her expulsion from the country.
WPF condemns in the strongest terms the recent actions taken by Rosfinmonitorin in designating journalists Maria Menshikova and Anna Loiko as “terrorists and extremists.”
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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.
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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.
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