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Antonina Favorskaya, a journalist who reported on the trial of the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, has been jailed in Moscow and is facing extremism charges.
Favorskaya’s work involved collecting, producing, and editing materials for Navalny’s foundation, which Russian authorities have declared extremist activity. Favorskaya was initially detained on March 17 after visiting Navalny’s grave, subsequently spending 10 days in jail for purported disobedience towards police before facing the current charges.
The decision to hold Favorskaya’s hearing behind closed doors was contested by her and her lawyer, with Mediazona, an independent news site, sharing footage of the journalist being forcibly removed by an official. The charges against her include involvement in an extremist group, carrying a maximum sentence of up to six years in prison.
Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokesperson, has refuted claims that Favorskaya published any content on the Anti-Corruption Foundation’s platform, stating, “Even if we discard the falsity of the accusation, its essence remains — the journalist is accused of journalistic activity. There is no need to be surprised, but what darkness.”
This all comes after Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a high-security prison in February while serving a 19-year sentence for extremism charges. His death has drawn criticism from international leaders, including President Biden, who have pointed fingers at Putin for Navalny’s demise.