Full Breakdown
Moscow Court Upholds Sentences for Journalists Linked to Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation
12/5/2025, 12:12:05 AM
Court Ruling and Sentences
A Moscow court has upheld five-and-a-half-year prison sentences for four journalists, including two former Deutsche Welle (DW) reporters, Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin. The other two convicted journalists are Antonina Favorskaya and Artyom Kriger. All four were found guilty of participating in an "extremist organization," specifically the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which was founded by opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The court's decision, made on Thursday, follows their original conviction in April 2024. The FBK has been classified as an extremist organization by Russian authorities since 2021, a designation that has led to the prosecution of numerous journalists and activists associated with Navalny's movement.
Background on the Convicted Journalists
Gabov and Karelin had previously worked for DW's Moscow bureau before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They later reported for international news outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press. Favorskaya and Kriger were affiliated with the independent Russian outlet SOTAVision. Despite their arrests occurring at different times in 2024, all four journalists were charged in the same case and have remained in custody since.
Defense and Legal Actions
The defense lawyer for Gabov, Irina Biryukova, has stated that the conviction lacks evidence of any extremist activity, asserting that the journalists were merely fulfilling their roles as reporters. Biryukova plans to appeal the decision in higher Russian courts and may escalate the case to the UN Human Rights Committee if necessary. Gabov has expressed hope that he might be included in a potential prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, urging continued international attention on their case to avoid being overlooked in future negotiations.
International Reactions and Concerns
The conviction has drawn significant international criticism. Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission's foreign affairs, called for the immediate and unconditional release of the four journalists, labeling them as political prisoners. The human rights organization Memorial has recognized them as such, contributing to a total of 742 political prisoners in Russia, which includes journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens. Reporters Without Borders has reported that between 1,500 and 1,800 Russian journalists have fled the country since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the deteriorating state of press freedom in Russia.
Press Freedom in Russia
The situation for journalists in Russia has worsened, with the country ranking 171 out of 180 in the 2025 Press Freedom Index. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government banned DW's broadcasts and closed its Moscow office. DW's website has been blocked across Russia, although its Russian service continues to operate from Riga, Latvia. The ongoing repression of media and dissenting voices underscores the challenges faced by journalists in the current political climate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The case files presented in both the trial and appeals courts contain no evidence of any extremist activity,” — Irina Biryukova, Defense Lawyer
- “Favorskaya, Gabov, Karelin, Kriger and all political prisoners must be released immediately and unconditionally.” — Anitta Hipper, European Commission Spokesperson
- “He is asking people to continue speaking out on their behalf, as [their case] may be overlooked in future exchange negotiations without international attention.” — Irina Biryukova, Defense Lawyer
