Story perspectives

Russian Court Upholds Sentences for Journalists, Sparks Outcry

12/5/2025

Summary

Story summary

A Moscow court upheld five-and-a-half year prison sentences for four journalists, including two former Deutsche Welle reporters, convicted of ties to Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation.
The journalists denied the charges of participating in an "extremist organization."
Human rights organizations have recognized them as political prisoners.
That recognition adds to a total of 742 political prisoners in Russia.
The European Commission called for their immediate release.

1 of 1

Story summary

A Moscow court upheld five-and-a-half year prison sentences for four journalists, including two former Deutsche Welle reporters, convicted of ties to Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation.
The journalists denied the charges of participating in an "extremist organization."
Human rights organizations have recognized them as political prisoners.
That recognition adds to a total of 742 political prisoners in Russia.
The European Commission called for their immediate release.