Russia: Exiled Journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva Declared Wanted
Women Press Freedom condemns the continued persecution of journalist who has faced years of harassment
Location: Russia
Date: July 18, 2024
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia adds journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva to its wanted list. While the specific criminal charges against Prokopyeva remain unspecified, Women Press Freedom suspects it may be related to repeated accusations of "discrediting" the army. Last year, Prokopyeva, who lives in Latvia, was convicted and fined by Russian courts under this law following her interview with a historian. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government has introduced military censorship laws that have made independent, truthful reporting on its actions in Ukraine virtually impossible. This legislation triggered an exodus of journalists and media outlets from Russia. The Kremlin continues to target journalists who report from exile to intimidate and silence their investigations. At least 17 women and non-binary journalists have been issued arrest warrants and declared wanted by the Russian government. Women Press Freedom denounces the continued persecution of Svetlana Prokopyeva and her exiled colleagues. We demand that she and all journalists be removed from the wanted list and that all bogus charges against them be dropped.
On July 18, 2024, exiled journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva was placed on the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ wanted list. This was confirmed after her name appeared in the department's database.
Prokopyeva expressed her frustration at the latest attack on her. “I have no idea what kind of criminal case this is, but it's clear that no crimes need to be committed here—I’m on our monster, the Russian Federation's hit list. They're lazy; why look for new victims when there are well-mastered old ones? Lazy, vile cannibals, what else can you say.”
Women Press Freedom found that the Ministry’s website states that Prokopyeva is "wanted under an article of the Criminal Code." The specific charge has not been disclosed.
Prokopyeva speculates that she might face new accusations of "discrediting" the army. She was previously fined for this charge last year, following her interview with historian Vasily Zharkov about the war in Ukraine. Authorities claimed that Prokopyeva’s work had a “psychological influence on readers.”
Prokopyeva has experienced immense persecution from the Russian government for her journalism. In June 2023, Prokopyeva was labeled a "foreign agent" by the Ministry of Justice. This designation was based on her residence abroad, her opposition to the war in Ukraine, her sharing of materials from other "foreign agents," and her receipt of "support from foreign sources."
Her troubles with authorities date back to 2019, when she was charged with justifying terrorism over a commentary on "Echo of Moscow" about a terrorist attack on the FSB building in Arkhangelsk. Although the prosecution sought a six-year prison sentence and a four-year ban on her journalistic activities, she was ultimately fined 500,000 rubles.
In March 2022, Prokopyeva’s home was raided by police, who forcibly entered her country house, detained her, and questioned her in connection with allegations of slander against Governor Maxim Vedernikov of the Pskov region. After this incident, she left Russia.
Svetlana Prokopyeva's wanted card / Screenshot from the Ministry of Internal Affairs database Credit: Mediazona
Women Press Freedom denounces the decision by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs to declare exiled journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva wanted. This move, coming amidst ongoing repression of independent journalism, illustrates the Kremlin's relentless efforts to silence dissenting voices both within the country and abroad. Prokopyeva, who has faced previous charges under Russia's draconian censorship laws, is now subjected to an ambiguous criminal investigation that likely aims to intimidate her and other exiled journalists. The broader context of military censorship intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has made independent reporting increasingly dangerous. Women Press Freedom calls for the immediate removal of Prokopyeva and her colleagues from the wanted list. We urge the international community to stand in solidarity with these journalists and demand an end to oppressive measures against those who seek to provide truthful reporting.
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