Russia: Authorities Charge Maria Menshikova And Svetlana Anokhina For Social Media Posts
Location: Russia
Date: April 27, 2023
DOXA head of news Maria Menshikova and Daptar editor-in-chief Svetlana Anokhina charged with "incitement to terrorism" and "discrediting" Russian Armed Forces. The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently denounces Russian authorities' efforts to censor media freedom.
Maria Menshikova
“In a fascist regime, everything is upside down: war is peace, and freedom is slavery,” says journalist Maria Menshikova. “The main threat to fascists is the solidarity of people who care, which is now equated with ‘terrorism’.”
On April 21, DOXA news editor Maria Menshikova, who currently lives in exile in Germany, was charged with "incitement to terrorism" for posting on the social media platform VKontakte. In the post, she asked people to write letters to detainees who set ablaze military recruitment centers to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
“This Sunday, we sent a letter about the arsons of military registration and enlistment offices this spring! <…> Write letters and support political prisoners!” the post reads.
Menshikova is not an isolated case in a country where media freedom is heavily controlled and silenced.
In September 2022, Menshikova's colleagues, DOXA former editors Alla Gutnikova, Natasha Tyshkevich, and Vladimir Metelkin, were placed on the wanted list by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The move came after they were convicted to two years each of “forced labor” for “inciting” teenagers to rally in support of Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, and anti-corruption activist.
If convicted, Menshikova faces up to 7 years of imprisonment.
Svetlana Anokhina
“I have been waiting for this case for a long time,” says exiled journalist Svetlana Anokhina after the Daptar editor-in-chief was charged on April 18, 2023, with "discrediting" the Russian Armed Forces.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Dagestan has initiated an investigation against Anokhina for anti-war posts on Instagram.
A year prior, on April 12, 2022, Anokhina's 93-year-old mother was interrogated by the district police, who went to her home and inquired about the Instagram posts.
Anokhina has been living in exile since 2021 following an attack by Dagestani security forces on a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence, which she founded.
Anokhina faces up to 7 years in prison if extradited and convicted.
In December 2022, exiled editor-in-chief of Fontanga and women human rights defender Izabella Evloeva was placed on the international wanted list by the Russian Federation due to her criticism of the Chechen-Ingush land deal and her coverage of human rights violations in Ingushetia.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends its support to Maria Menshikova and Svetlana Anokhina in the climate of increased pressure on freedom of speech in Russia. We condemn the blatant disregard for democratic values and call for immediate action from the international community.
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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