Russian journalist arrested for making videos for Alexei Navalny: report

Another Russian journalist was detained in Russia for “extremism”, accused of making videos for the team of the late dissident Alexei Navalny, the international news agency Associated Press reported on Sunday.

Sergei Karelin, who worked for the AP, is the second journalist arrested on such charges, after Konstantin Gabov, who occasionally worked for the Reuters news agency and was detained on Saturday.

“The Associated Press is very concerned about the detention of Russian video journalist Sergei Karelin,” the agency told AFP. “We are seeking additional information.”

Gabov, who, according to media reports, also worked for the Russian television channels Moskva 24 and MIR, as well as the Belarusian news agency Belsat, will remain in pre-trial detention until at least June 27, the press service of the courts reported on Telegram.

Karelin and Gabov are accused of helping prepare videos to be published on the YouTube channel NavalnyLIVE, a platform used by Navalny’s team, the courts said.

Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critic, died under unclear circumstances in an Arctic prison in February.

Their movement is designated as “extremist”, exposing their employees and supporters to legal proceedings.

Most of Navalny’s allies are in exile or serving long prison sentences.

Russian authorities have in recent months increased pressure on independent and foreign media outlets in a concerted effort to silence dissenting voices in the wake of the offensive against Ukraine.

In March, photographer Antonina Kravtsova was also detained on charges of “extremism”, after frequently covering Navalny’s trials for SOTAvision, one of the few media organizations documenting political repression in Russia and considered a “foreign agent”. by the authorities.

Sergei Mingazov, a Russian journalist who works for the Russian version of Forbes media, was detained on Friday and accused of spreading “false information” about army abuses in Ukraine.

Other journalists arrested include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who faces espionage charges that he and U.S. authorities reject.

Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who works for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been imprisoned since October for failing to register as a “foreign agent” as required by authorities.

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