Russia: Bella Nasibyan, Yulia Glazova Briefly Detentioned, Face Legal Harassment Under “Fake” Information Law
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: September 12, 2022
Police detained Bella Nasibyan, Yulia Glazova and three other journalists after conducting raids in connection with an investigation against Ilya Ponomarev, a former Duma member, charged with spreading “fake” information about the army. The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces the raids and the continued legal harassment of journalists in the country. We extend support to Bella and Yulia and call on the Russian authorities to cease their escalation against the independent press.
Last August, Ponomarev alleged that a group called the National Republican Army was behind a car bombing, which killed Darya Dugina, the daughter of an ally of President Vladmir Putin. Ponomarev accused the group of attempting to overthrow Putin’s government, according to news reports. Ponomarev was charged under the “fake” information law passed earlier in March. Conviction under this law carries prison sentences of up to 15 years and fines of up to five million rubles (US$82,000). Find the CFWIJ’s detailed report on the law here.
On September 8, Rostov-on-Don searched Bella’s home and took her in for questioning at the local Center for Combating Extremism, reported local media. Bella, a reporter with independent digital news portal RusNews, was released later that day after being named as a witness in the case against Ponomarev. Russian authorities had frozen her bank accounts earlier that day.
In simultaneous raids, police searched the homes of four other journalists and media workers, including Yulia, a reporter with news website 86.ru. The authorities seized technical equipment from Yulia’s home in the Central city of Tyumen and detained her for questioning. She was also released later that day after being named as a witness in the case against Pomorev.
Other journalists briefly detained in connection with the case include Ruslan Sukhushin, a photographer in Moscow, Viktor Zyryanov, founder of local independent digital news platform Orlets, and Vladislav Postnikov, editor-in-chief of the independent Vecherniy Vedomosti newspaper.
Russian authorities claimed on the day that they had taken “investigative action in several Russian regions” against the administrators of February Morning, reported state news agency RIA Novosti.
February Morning is a news project launched this year by Ponomarev on YouTube and Telegram, a digital media platform used by the independent press in Russia and Ukraine to disburse otherwise censored information. Telegram is also used by media outlets spreading Russian state propoganda. The editors of February Morning denied any connection with the five journalists targeted on September 8, however, and added that they “oppose the repression of independent media”. The outlet maintained that “under the pretext of combating ‘fakes about the army,’ a total cleansing of independent journalism in the regions is taking place”.
Since the war started several independent journalists have been subjected to state-linked harassment and persecution in Russia. In March, a law was passed criminalizing dispension of information about the invasion or the military’s activities abroad that the state deems “fake” or “false”. According to that legislation, spreading information that the Kremlin deems “false” or contradictory to the state’s position on the war in Ukraine can be punishable with up to 15 years in prison. Later that month, the law was expanded further to include punishment for “false” news about government agencies abroad.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned with the Kremlin's continued efforts to quash independent coverage. The state’s violations against the independent press have onlyincreased since Russia launched an invasion in Ukraine. In 2022 thus far, we have documented 28 cases of violations against women journalists in Russia. Prominent among them were cases of journalists associated withDoxa Journal, Sota Vision and Skat Media as well as Svetlana Prokopyeva, who was forced to fleethe country, and former state-run Channel 1 TV editor, who faced legal action after decrying misinformation propagated by state media on-air. Prior to this, for nearly a decade, journalists in Russia have faced draconian laws like the “foreign agent” legislation, impeded internet access and systematic closures of leading independent news outlets. We call on the State Duma to allow journalists to work freely and independently. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with our colleagues in Russia and lauds the brave women journalists striving to bring the truth to the world despite heightened censorship. We condemn the continued state-linked harassment of women journalists in the country and extend support to Bella Nasibyan and Yulia Glazova.
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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