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.

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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.

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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