Russia: Police Raid Ksenia Klochkova's Home Over Exiled Colleague's Criminal Case
Journalist’s devices taken by authorities
Location: Russia, St. PetersburgDate: April 19, 2024
Women Press Freedom is deeply troubled by the recent events unfolding in St. Petersburg, Russia, where local authorities have raided the home of journalist Ksenia Klochkova. This disturbing action occurred in connection with a criminal investigation against her former colleague, the exiled investigative journalist Andrey Zakharov. Klochkova has had her journalistic equipment confiscated and faces imminent questioning. We are appalled, once again, by the aggressive actions of Russian law enforcement toward independent journalists. Beyond the pursuit of Zakharov, the Kremlin now seems intent on instilling fear in any journalists, whether current or former colleagues, associated with him who remain within Russia. Klochkova is facing harassment by authorities for merely knowing the exiled Zakharov and contributing to the same outlet, Fontanka. We demand an immediate end to the harassment of Klochkova and express grave concerns that authorities may seek to further implicate her in the unjust case against Zakharov.
On April 19, 2024, local law enforcement raided St. Petersburg journalist Ksenia Klochkova's home. Two days prior, a criminal investigation was launched into exiled Russian journalist Andrey Zakharov. Klochkova says she is being called as a witness in the case against Zakharov, who is being charged for repeatedly failing to disclose his “foreign agent” status.
The search of Klochkova's home lasted about three hours. Police seized her phone and laptop, and she was ordered to appear for questioning by the Investigative Committee.
The raid on Klochkova's residence suggests authorities suspect her of possessing "material evidence" relevant to Zakharov's case. Klochkova is a freelance contributor to Fontanka, a media outlet where Zakharov once worked.
Zakharov says he is now in no way connected with Klochkova. “I just watch her work and admire her,” he stated following news of the raid.
Andrey Zakharov, designated as a "foreign agent" in October 2021, departed Russia shortly after. He worked with Fontanka until 2016 and has also reported for the BBC Russian Service and the independent investigative outlet Proekt. In November 2023, Zakharov, in collaboration with Proekt, released a documentary implicating the Kremlin in the initiation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Raiding the homes of associates and former colleagues is just the latest tactic of Russian authorities to target and harass outspoken exiled journalists. Not content with filing a bogus criminal case against Zakharov, authorities are now striking fear into any current or former colleagues of his who remain in Russia.
In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, independent Russian journalists fled amid escalating state persecution and the imposition of military censorship laws. The Kremlin has proceeded to file multiple international arrest warrants against journalists in exile who continue to report and has sentenced many in absentia. At least three exiled Russian journalists have revealed they have been the targets of suspected poisoning attempts while abroad. This tactic of transnational repression serves to intimidate dissidents and critical media into silence regardless of their location. The Kremlin has also employed secondary targeting against family members of exiled journalists, surveilling and intimidating those connected to them who remain in Russia.
Women Press Freedom strongly denounces the raid on Ksenia Klochkova's home and police targeting of her due to her loose association with Zakharov. We strongly condemn any actions that inhibit the free exercise of journalism and the persecution of journalists for their work.
Women Press Freedom demands that this is where the harassment of Klochkova ends. We are deeply concerned that authorities may continue their targeting of Klochkova by further implicating her in the unjust case involving Zakharov.
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