Russia jails journalist over claims she discredited the military

In a closed-door proceedings Tuesday, a Russian tribunal sentenced a writer to 4 years successful situation for her enactment with overseas media outlets.

Nika Novak was arrested successful December 2023 connected accusations of “preparing inaccurate materials” to discredit the Russian equipped forces.

The FSB information work said that Novak’s enactment was "aimed astatine causing reputational damage” to Russia and an effort to destabilize the state and its warfare successful Ukraine, according to the Interfax quality agency.

The court, which is successful the Siberian portion of Zabaykalsky Krai, did not accidental which overseas media outlet Novak is accused of moving for.

Novak worked antecedently for the Russian quality websites Chita and Zab.ru, and had been a freelance newsman astatine Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty oregon RFE/RL.

A sister web to VOA, RFE/RL is an autarkic U.S.-funded media outlet. Moscow designates RFE/RL a alleged overseas agent.

RFE/RL President Stephen Capus connected Tuesday condemned the condemnation handed to Novak.

“These politically motivated charges are intended to soundlessness idiosyncratic reporters and origin a chilling effect. We telephone for Nika's contiguous merchandise to her family,” Capus said successful a connection shared with VOA.

Russia has ramped up its arrests and harassment of autarkic journalists since its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022.

Shortly after, the authorities issued directives connected however media could study the war, and legislators enacted a instrumentality to penalize anyone authorities deemed to beryllium spreading mendacious quality oregon accusation that could discredit the military.

Russian authorities person besides issued respective apprehension warrants successful absentia. In October, authorities ordered the apprehension successful absentia of a CNN analogous who had reported from Russia’s Kursk portion arsenic Ukraine forces made advances.

The Memorial quality rights radical described Novak arsenic a "political prisoner." It added that the writer appeared to “hold anti-Ukrainian views," based connected societal media posts, but had criticized section authorities for supporting the offensive, according to AFP.

The Coalition for Women successful Journalism has besides condemned Novak’s detention. In a connection astatine the clip of her arrest, the radical said, “The Kremlin is continuously abusing authorities to people journalists and activists. This indispensable stop.”

“The superior charges and lengthy situation word facing Novak are profoundly worrying,” the connection said, adding that the conjugation called connected Russia to driblet the charges and merchandise the journalist.

This study contains accusation from Agence France-Presse.