The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the Russian authorities' repeated harassment of the journalist

Location: Russia, Perm
Date: August 17, 2023

Federal Security Services (FSB) officers raid home of journalist Oksana Asaulenko in connection with a criminal case against Sergei Ukhov, the former coordinator of Alexei Navalny's Perm headquarters. Authorities seize the journalist’s phone. The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges FSB to return her phone and demands they stop harassing journalists.

"I understand that now, no matter where, with whom, and no matter what happens, the FSB officers will always conduct a search at my place," journalist Oksana Asaulenko wrote in her Telegram channel after her home in Perm was raided on August 17, 2023.

The raid was reportedly conducted in relation to a criminal case against the founder of the opposition Telegram channel Perm 36.6, Sergei Ukhov. Previously, Ukhov headed Alexei Navalny's Perm headquarters. Organizations affiliated with the imprisoned opposition leader are deemed extremist and were banned in 2021. The Kremlin has labeled Ukhov a foreign agent as well.

Russian authorities continuously harass Asaulenko for her reporting. In June 2023, she was found guilty of an administrative offense in Russia and fined 30,000 rubles. Asaulenko was charged based on a post she made in a VKontakte group discussing a riot at a correctional colony. In May, Asaulenko was fined 80,000 rubles for two protocols related to "discrediting" the Russian army.

Asaulenko expressed frustration at the repeated harassment and implied that she is being targeted by the FSB (Federal Security Service). 

"I, apparently, can be involved in general in everything and everyone,“ she wrote.

In a similar case in May, Russian police repeatedly raided the home of freelance journalist Nailia Mullaeva, seizing her mobile phones, laptop, and SIM cards. Mullaeva believes these raids are attempts to silence dissenting voices against Putin's regime. She has also faced previous detentions and legal harassment for opposing Russia's actions in Ukraine. 

Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has witnessed a troubling clampdown on independent media. The Kremlin's grip on power has resulted in the near-total censorship of critical voices, with journalists facing imprisonment, detention, and harassment for daring to challenge the official narrative.

The state's control over the media landscape is far-reaching, with numerous independent outlets being banned, blocked, or unjustly labeled as "foreign agents" or "undesirable organizations." As a result, the few remaining media platforms are now subjected to military censorship, effectively stifling the dissemination of unbiased information.

The violation of press freedom in the recent home search targeting Asaulenko emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in Russia who are trying to work under increasingly oppressive circumstances. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns this raid and Russian authorities' continued persecution of critical media workers. We demand the FSB immediately return Okasana Asaulenko’s phone and allow her to report free from harassment.

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.