On Thursday, Russian authorities imposed a fine on Sergei Sokolov, a journalist working with the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Sokolov, who serves as the newspaper’s editor, was charged with discrediting the army. However, he expressed disagreement with the allegations leveled against him.
The incident traces back to an article published by Novaya Gazeta in December 2023 titled “Nobody’s boys.” The piece shed light on Russian orphans who enlisted in the army to participate in conflict activities in Ukraine. Moscow’s court system stated that Sokolov’s detention was linked to this article.
While Novaya Gazeta acknowledged Sokolov’s detention, it refrained from providing extensive details on the situation. The newspaper vaguely mentioned that his arrest was related to coverage of the Russian army in an article.
Following legal proceedings, a district court in Moscow decided to fine Sokolov 30,000 roubles ($327.88) for discrediting the Russian armed forces—an administrative offense. TASS, a Russian news agency, reported that Sokolov had allegedly shared material on Novaya Gazeta’s Telegram channel, which exhibited signs of verbal discrediting of the army’s actions.
Novaya Gazeta is renowned for its investigative journalism, often delving into topics that challenge the Kremlin, government policies, and top officials. Dmitry Muratov, the newspaper’s former editor-in-chief and a Nobel Prize-winning journalist, relinquished his position in September. His decision stemmed from authorities labeling him as a “foreign agent,” a term used by Moscow to denote individuals perceived as working against Russian state interests.
This latest incident adds to concerns surrounding freedom of the press in Russia, where journalists face increasing pressure and scrutiny for their reporting. Sokolov’s case highlights the ongoing challenges confronting independent media outlets striving to uphold transparency and accountability in the face of government restrictions.
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