On October 2, 2024, I reported on the start of a trial in Moscow of four Russian journalists accused of working with an “extremist organization” — Aleksei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) — some three years earlier. The four — Konstantin Gabov, Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger, and Sergey Karelin — have been on my hostage list since their closed trial, with no further news of them.

Yesterday it was reported that their closed-door trial has finally been concluded, though it is unclear why it has taken six months to reach this point. The “crime” with which they are charged carries a penalty of up to six years in prison; prosecutors have asked for prison terms of five years and eleven months for each of the defendants, alleging that they created materials for the FBK’s YouTube channel.

Two of the accused — Gabov and Karelin — are freelancers who have worked for various news organizations, including Reuters and The Associated Press (AP), respectively.

A Reuters spokesman has said that “Konstantin Gabov is a freelance journalist who between 2022 and 2024 occasionally contributed to Reuters as a desk producer, editing video and scripting stories assigned to him. We have no evidence that shows the charges against him relate to his freelance work at Reuters. Reuters is deeply committed to freedom of the press and opposes the imprisonment of any journalist for doing their job. Journalists must be free to report the news in the public interest without fear of harassment or harm, wherever they are.” [Mark Trevelyan and Lucy Papachristou, Reuters, April 10, 2025.]

Both Favorskaya and Kriger work for SOTAvision, an independent news outlet that has also been designated by the Russian government as a “foreign agent.” Favorskaya recorded the last video of Navalny in a court hearing the day before his death.

SOTAvision’s founder, Aleksandra Ageeva — also listed in Russia as a foreign agent — said:

“Why are the court hearings closed? The judge came today escorted by men carrying automatic weapons. Who are they afraid of? Or is it a gesture of intimidation? It is absurd.” [Id.]

*. *. *

These four journalists are not Americans; but not all of the hostages on our list are. They are, however, all believers in freedom and justice, and daily put their lives on the line to fight for those principles.

Justice is blind; it is the birthright of every individual, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. And so we continue to honor Putin’s hostages, and to fight for their release.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
4/11/25