By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
A Moscow court has ordered the detention of a Russian journalist who extensively covered the trials of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny and other dissidents, citing charges of extremism.
Antonina Favorskaya, also known as Antonina Kravtsova, was arrested earlier this month and appeared before the Basmanny District Court in Moscow on Friday for a detention hearing. The court ruled to keep her in custody until at least May 28 pending further investigation and trial.
The proceedings were held behind closed doors at the request of investigators, a decision supported by the presiding judge despite objections from Favorskaya and her legal counsel. Expressing her opposition to the closed-door nature of the hearing, Favorskaya emphasized the importance of transparency, particularly regarding the charges against her.
“I am completely against a closed process. The press needs to know what’s going on here, what I’m being accused of,” Favorskaya stated during the hearing, as reported by the independent news site Mediazona.
According to court officials, Favorskaya stands accused of involvement with an extremist group, specifically for her alleged role in collecting material, producing videos, and editing publications for Navalny’s Foundation for Fighting Corruption. The Foundation had been declared extremist by Russian authorities, leading to its outlawing. If convicted, Favorskaya could face up to six years in prison.
Favorskaya’s detention initially stemmed from her arrest on March 17 after she laid flowers on Navalny’s grave. Following a 10-day stint in jail for alleged disobedience toward the police, she was recharged upon her release, leading to her appearance in court on Friday, according to OVD-Info, a Russian human rights group.
The detention of Favorskaya underscores the ongoing crackdown on dissent and independent journalism in Russia, particularly concerning individuals associated with Navalny and his anti-corruption activities. As the international community monitors developments closely, concerns over press freedom and the rule of law in Russia continue to mount.
This article sheds light on the detention of Russian journalist Antonina Favorskaya and the charges of extremism she faces, highlighting concerns over press freedom and the crackdown on dissent in Russia.