Russia: Yuliya Petrova Detained, Fined For Reporting On Protest
CFWIJ Demands Immediate and Unconditional Acquittal
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: June 5, 2023
The Timiryazevsky District Court in Moscow imposed a fine of 150,000 rubles (approximately €1,700) on journalist Yuliya Petrova following her detention the previous day while reporting on a protest in Moscow. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is following the increase in arrests for truthful reporting with anguish. Russia’s attempts to muzzle dissenting voices, including arresting journalists reporting on demonstrations, are incredibly worrying. CFWIJ is outraged by the court's decision to fine Petrova and demands the immediate withdrawal of any legal charges against the journalist.
Supporters of imprisoned Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny took to the streets in several cities across the country on June 4, demanding his release and the release of all political prisoners. The demonstrations were held on the occasion of Navalny's 47th birthday.
Petrova, a RusNews journalist who covers human rights violations, retrieved some leaflets containing harsh criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin while covering the arrests of protesters on Pushkin Square in central Moscow.
Police officials accused the journalist of participating in the protest and claimed the flyers belonged to her. Petrova denies these allegations. The reporter provided her press card and her newsroom's instructions, which, under Russian law, grant journalists the legal right to cover protests.
Petrova was arrested and subsequently convicted of violating Article 20.2.8 of the Russian Code on Administrative Offences, which stipulates fines ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 rubles, 40 to 200 hours of compulsory labor, or up to 30 days of administrative arrest for "repeatedly violating" Russian legislation on public protests.
At the hearing, lawyer Ekaterina Raeva requested footage of Petrova's detention from the police officers' video recorder, but the judge denied the request. The judge was not convinced by the presence of Petrova's accreditation, her editorial assignment, or a video from her phone that documented the incident.
“All the protocols were very similar, and no one really understood that Yulia was a journalist,” commented Raeva on the hearing.
RusNews journalist Petrova says she will appeal her conviction.
Decrease in Press Freedom
Under Putin's tight grip on power, Russia has seen the enactment of a series of vague extremism laws, leading to their use against journalists and political dissidents. The government heavily influences the media industry, with many outlets either owned by the state or closely aligned with Putin's ruling party. This has created a climate where journalists face significant risks and challenges in reporting on sensitive issues.
As CFWIJ has documented, on May 16, police forces ransacked the home of freelance journalist Nailia Mullaeva, seizing two mobile phones, a laptop, and two SIM cards during the search.
On April 21, Maria Menshikova — the editor of DOXA news currently living in exile in Germany — was charged with "incitement to terrorism" for a post she made on the social media platform VKontakte. In the post, she asked people to write letters to detainees who had set fire to military recruitment centers to protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On February 26, 2022, Russia's state internet regulator Roskomnadzor declared that news outlets could only report official government statements regarding the invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, Roskomnadzor threatened to block the websites of any news outlets that published reports contradicting the official government's stance.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism denounces the detention and monetary penalty imposed on Yuliya Petrova. We express solidarity with Petrova and all women journalists who Putin's government has censored. Such censorship practices have a daunting impact on press freedom and may deter journalists from covering sensitive or critical topics. Governments must uphold the rights of journalists and media personnel to report without any intimidation or fear of reprisals. Journalists are vital in holding those in authority accountable and informing the public, and any move to silence them undermines democracy and free speech. We demand her immediate acquittal.
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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