A Russian court today ordered the pre-trial detention of one journalist in an area of Siberia that claimed 11 Russian police officers refused to take part in the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine a special military operation.
The journalist, who is the editor-in-chief of a website in the Khakassia region of Siberia, is accused of spreading “deliberately false information” about the Russian armed forces, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in its announcement.
If convicted, the journalist faces up to 10 years in prison, according to the commission.
Earlier this week, investigators searched his apartment and seized $ 15,000 and more than 1,200 euros in cash, the commission added.
The commission’s local office did not name the journalist, but it’s apparently Mikhail Afanasiyev, the editor-in-chief of the Novyi Fokus news website, which is headquartered in Hakkaya.
In early April, Afanasyev, citing sources, wrote that 11 members of the Interior Ministry’s OMON riot special forces had come under pressure from the authorities after refusing to go on a rampage in Ukraine.
Afanashev’s article was widely circulated on social media. Today, the Russian telecommunications regulator blocked the Russian version of The Moscow Times, an independent English-language newspaper that republished Afanashev’s article.
“Russia today blocked the Russian-language service of The Moscow Times after the publication of false information that the authorities consider to be false regarding the refusal of the police to go to fight in Ukraine.” the newspaper reported on its website.
Afanashev, 45, had earlier said he had no intention of leaving Russia.
“I am not preparing to leave the country, I am persistent and I intend to lead the struggle”stressed the French Agency.
Known for covering sensitive issues in Khakassia, he has faced years of defamation lawsuits for his independent approach to the issues he covered.
According to recently passed laws, the publication of information about the conflict in Ukraine that is considered false by the authorities is punishable by heavy fines of up to 15 years in prison.
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