The European Commission has denounced the sentencing of four journalists in Russia who were accused of having ties to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), established by Aleksei Navalny. In a statement, EC spokesperson Anitta Hipper expressed solidarity with all political prisoners in Russia and called for their immediate release.
“Russia persists in its aggression against Ukraine and its campaign against courageous voices within its borders that advocate for democracy and freedom of speech. The Russian authorities are threatened by these independent voices and have imprisoned hundreds of innocent journalists, opposition figures, and human rights activists, along with ordinary citizens. Thus, we strongly condemn the recent politically motivated prison sentences handed down to four independent Russian journalists: Antonina, Konstantin, Sergei, and Artyom,” Hipper remarked during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
She further noted that the European Commission is applying international pressure on Russia concerning human rights abuses and is committed to supporting individuals affected by these violations, including through monitoring their legal proceedings.
“We are also providing assistance to civil society, human rights defenders, activists, and independent media, both within Russia and beyond. For instance, the European Union supports non-governmental organizations in Russia in their legal efforts for political prisoners,” the spokesperson highlighted.
A Moscow court sentenced the four journalists, accused of ties to Navalny’s FBK, to 5.5 years in prison on Tuesday. Navalny himself passed away in 2024 under mysterious circumstances while incarcerated.
The independent Russian news outlet Meduza reported that the journalists—Antonina Faworska, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabow, and Artyom Kriger—were penalized for their professional work. They faced accusations of involvement with an “extremist organization,” identified as the FBK. Authorities alleged that the journalists were engaged in producing materials for FBK, but none of the accused admitted to any wrongdoing. The specifics of the investigation remain undisclosed, and the trial was conducted behind closed doors. (18.04.2025)
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