The CEO of the Dozhd channel, one of Russia’s few independent media outlets who has lived in exile for several months, was declared a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities on Friday, along with two other journalists from the group.
Natalya Sindeeva, Vladimir Romensky and Ekaterina Kotrikadze appear on an updated list of individuals classified as “foreign agents” published by the Russian Justice Ministry.
His inclusion in the list is officially justified by “engagement in political activities.”
Kremlin critic Doyd (“Rain” in Russian) was blocked in early March following Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, widely condemned by the channel’s journalists.
While in exile in Latvia, Russia’s neighbor that has already hosted several free Russian media outlets, Doid resumed broadcasting from Riga, the capital of the Baltic state, in mid-July.
According to a list released this Friday by the Russian Ministry of Justice, lawyer Mikhail Benyach and YouTuber Ivan Yakovina are also recognized as “foreign agents”.
Russia has imposed unprecedented repression since the start of the offensive in Ukraine: the authorities introduced a law providing for up to 15 years in prison for any publication of information about the army that the authorities consider to be false.
The Russian opposition has dwindled in recent months and most of its members are now in exile or in prison.
On Wednesday, journalist and blogger Ksenia Sobchak, daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s former political mentor, announced she had taken refuge in Lithuania after denouncing “an attack on her editorial team” after an extortion lawsuit was filed against her.
The military offensive launched by Russia on February 24 in Ukraine has already led to the flight of more than 13 million people – more than six million internally displaced people and more than 7.7 million to European countries, according to the latest UN figures. this migration crisis was the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion, justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security, was condemned by the international community as a whole, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing them on Russia. political and economic sanctions.
The UN has presented as confirmed since the start of the war, which entered its 247th day today, 6,374 civilians killed and 9,776 wounded, stressing that these numbers are much lower than the real ones.