Russia: Final Verdict On Svetlana Prokopyeva’s Case: Fined For Journalism
Location: Russia, Pskov
Date: July 6, 2020
RFE/RL journalist and radio broadcaster Svetlana Prokopyeva’s case came to an end today.
The prosecutor of the court in Pskov had requested last week, the imprisonment of Svetlana for six years along with a ban on journalistic activities for four years. The requested sentence caused an uproar in the global community.
Earlier today the judge delivered the final verdict on Svetlana Prokopyeva who was charged with “justifying terrorism” for commenting on a terrorist attack on her radio show.
Svetlana is found guilty and fined 500.000 Rubles (approximately 7000 USD).
#Russia: Svetlana Prokopyeva, journalist from Pskov is facing 6 years in prison for “justifying terrorism”. The verdict will be announced by the court today https://t.co/hn4kp8usqX
— ARTICLE 19 ECA (@article19europe) July 6, 2020
The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the overturn of the prison sentence against Svetlana, and demands the acquittal of the case.
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.