Russian journalist arrested for making video for Alexei Navalny: report

Another Russian journalist has been detained in Russia on “extremism” charges, accused of making videos for the team of slain dissident Alexei Navalny, the Associated Press international news agency said on Sunday.

Sergei Karlin, who has worked for the AP, is the second journalist arrested on such charges after Konstantin Gabov, who sometimes worked for the Reuters news agency and was detained on Saturday.

“The Associated Press is deeply concerned by the detention of Russian video journalist Sergei Karlin,” the agency told AFP. “We are seeking additional information.”

Gabov, who according to media reports worked for Russian television channels Moskva 24 and MIR as well as the Belarusian news agency Belsat, will remain in pre-trial detention until at least June 27, the court’s press service said on Telegram. .

Karelin and Gabov are accused of helping produce videos published on the YouTube channel NavalnyLive, which is used by Navalny’s team, the courts said.

Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critic, died under suspicious circumstances in an Arctic prison in February.

His movement has been designated as “extremist”, leading to prosecution of its staff and supporters.

Most of Navalny’s associates are in exile or serving long prison sentences.

Russian authorities have stepped up pressure on independent and foreign media in recent months in a concerted effort to suppress dissident voices following attacks against Ukraine.

In March, photographer Antonina Kravtsova was also charged with “extremism” after frequently covering Navalny’s trials for SOTAvision, which is one of the few media organizations documenting political action in Russia and has been banned by authorities. Considered a “foreign agent”.

Russian journalist Sergei Mingazov, who works for the Russian edition of Forbes Media, was detained on Friday and accused of spreading “false information” about military abuses in Ukraine.

Other jailed journalists include Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich, who faces espionage claims, which he and US officials deny.

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been behind bars since October for not registering as a “foreign agent” as required by authorities.

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