Russia: Svetlana Reiter Faces Prosecution for Association with Meduza
Legal harassment linked to the journalist’s interview with Navalny’s lawyer
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: May 21, 2024
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Women Press Freedom denounces the administrative charges brought against Svetlana Reiter, an award-winning investigative journalist, for her association with the media outlet Meduza, which Russian authorities designated as an undesirable organization and a foreign agent. Although the exact reason for her prosecution is unknown, local reports suggest that her interview with Alexei Navalny’s lawyer triggered the charges. Russian authorities’ labeling of Meduza as an “undesirable organization” and “foreign agent” has severe implications for journalists reporting for the independent outlet. Several journalists working for Meduza are facing legal challenges, including financial penalties and potential imprisonment. The use of these legal tools against journalists like Svetlana Reiter represents a growing crackdown on independent journalism inside and outside Russia, aiming to stifle dissent and control the narrative in the media. We demand that all charges against Reiter and her colleagues be dropped immediately.
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, it was announced that exiled journalist Svetlana Reiter faces prosecution under Article 20.33 of the Russian Administrative Code. This law penalizes participation in the activities of “an undesirable organization.” Sanctions under this article include fines of up to 15,000 rubles ($169).
Reiter is a well-known journalist, winner of the PolitProsvet journalistic award, and a multiple winner of the Editorial Board award in Russia.
The journalist's persecution stems from Reiter’s interview with Alexei Navalny’s lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, published in Meduza in March 2024. Reiter has stated that she was aware of the investigation.
Meduza has declined to comment on the situation. Reiter is scheduled to appear before the Moscow Magistrates' Court in June 2024.
Independent media outlet Meduza, which now operates in exile, was declared “undesirable” in January 2023. The Russian authorities have ramped up prosecutions for alleged involvement with media outlets declared “undesirable” in recent months, according to Mediazona, with at least 19 cases filed since the start of 2024.
In a similar case last month, fellow Meduza journalist Anastasia Zhvik, who also lives outside of Russia, was issued a protocol for being involved with an "undesirable" organization by the Leninsky District Court in Russian-annexed Sevastopol, Crimea. This case stemmed from Zhvik's writings for Meduza.
Russia’s "foreign agent" and "undesirable organization" laws are instruments of repression designed to silence independent media and restrict the free flow of information. The Kremlin has repeatedly used these laws to target journalists at home and abroad, as documented by Women Press Freedom, including Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva who has been unjustly detained for ten months for supposedly violating the “foreign agent” law. We vehemently condemn the weaponization of legal tools to harass and charge journalists. We demand all charges against Svetlana Reiter and her colleagues be dropped and call for Russia to cease its persecution of the independent press.
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.
WPF denounces Russia’s decision to revoke the accreditation of Carola Schneider, a seasoned Moscow correspondent for Austria’s ORF.
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.”
Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who went missing in August 2023, is being held by Russia’s Ministry of Defence, WPF can confirm.
WPF denounces the administrative charges brought against Svetlana Reiter, an award-winning investigative journalist, for her association with the media outlet Meduza.
WPF is deeply concerned about the ongoing detention and legal proceedings against Antonina Favorskaya, a journalist with SOTAvision.
WPF is appalled by the ongoing intimidation and harassment of renowned Tatar journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva by Russian occupying forces in Crimea.
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.
WPF is deeply troubled by the recent events unfolding in St. Petersburg, Russia, where local authorities have raided the home of journalist Ksenia Klochkova.
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The recent attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where journalist Yulia Boyko was seriously injured as a result of a Russian drone strike, highlights a grave and unacceptable trend.
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.
WPF strongly condemns the Kremlin’s persistent efforts to target and harass journalists and activists in exile.
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WPF strongly condemns the detention and late-night raid on the home of revered Crimean Tatar journalist Zera Bekirova.
CFWIJ and WPF stands in solidarity with Viorica Tataru and her cameraman Andrei Captarenco, who were unjustly detained by Transnistria's secret services in the breakaway region of Moldova.
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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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