Ukraine: Russia Charges Exiled Anastasiya Zhvik for Working with “Undesirable” Outlet Meduza
Journalist from Crimea has faced raids, online harassment, and multiple charges for her reporting
Location: Ukraine, Sevastopol
Date: April 23, 2023
Exiled freelance journalist Anastasiya Zhvik is facing legal proceedings in Sevastopol, Crimea, under Russian occupation, charged with supporting an "undesirable organization" due to her work for independent news outlet Meduza. The charge can result in hefty fines and up to four years behind bars. Zhvik was forced to flee her home in occupied Crimea after Russian authorities raided her apartment in 2022, triggering an onslaught of threats online. She was later labeled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities and continues to work in exile. Her plight is not an anomaly but rather part of a sinister pattern employed by the Russian state to persecute exiled journalists, fostering a climate of fear and intimidation to quash dissent. Women Press Freedom denounces the baseless charges being brought against the journalist and demands an end to the transnational oppression tactics employed by the Russian government against journalists and activists in exile.
On April 23, 2024, Leninsky District Court in Russian-annexed Sevastopol received documents regarding an administrative case involving journalist Anastasia Zhvik.
Zhvik, who lives outside of Russia, was issued a protocol for allegedly being involved with an "undesirable" organization. This case stemmed from Zhvik's writings for independent Russian outlet Meduza.
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.
Anastasia Zhvyk's harassment by Russian authorities began with a raid on her Sevastopol apartment in October 2022. Zhvyk, renowned for her outspoken criticism of Moscow's leadership and coverage of sensitive issues like LGBTQI rights, underwent police interrogation focusing on her foreign employment and financial details.
Following her interrogation, nationalist websites labeled her as an "agent of influence paid by the West," leading to menacing messages on social media platforms like VKontakte, including threats of physical harm. Fearing for her safety, Zhvyk fled Crimea.
Three months later she was labeled as a “foreign agent” by the Russian Ministry of Justice, a move that stigmatized her and subjected her to increased scrutiny.
In January 2023, Zhvyk was fined by the Russian-controlled Leninsky District Court in absentia for allegedly discrediting the Russian armed forces through her social media posts.
Women Press Freedom expresses deep concern over the ongoing persecution of Anastasiya Zhvik and her colleagues at the hands of Russian authorities. Having already endured displacement and exile, Zhvik now confronts additional charges for her reporting with Meduza. This is just the latest example of the lengths the Kremlin will go to to stifle any dissent or criticism of its policies. These absurd charges must be dropped, and Russian authorities must end its draconian clampdown on critical journalists.
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