Four Journalists Sentenced as Russia Tightens Grip on Press Freedom**

In a closed trial, four Russian journalists were convicted of extremism for their work with an anti-corruption organization linked to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, illustrating the heightened dangers facing independent journalism in Russia.**

Four journalists in Russia were sentenced to prison terms of five and a half years as part of a controversial closed trial that has sparked outrage globally. They were convicted of extremism for their involvement with the Anti-Corruption Fund, a group founded by the prominent opposition leader Alexei A. Navalny, who has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side for years, especially since his passing in February 2024 while in prison.

The trial underscores the perils faced by independent journalists in Russia, particularly in light of the intensified crackdown on media freedom following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The convicts—Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artyom Kriger—pleaded not guilty, asserting they were simply fulfilling their journalistic duties. The Kremlin's designation of Navalny’s organization as extremist has only compounded the risks of reporting critically on the government.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, numerous independent journalists fled Russia, while those who remained faced severe consequences for opposing the state narrative. Sentences exceeding 20 years for critics of the regime have become alarmingly common. Favorskaya, in particular, gained notoriety for being among the last journalists to capture footage of Navalny as he communicated from court days before his untimely death.

As the Kremlin continues to stifle dissent, the fate of these journalists serves as a grim reminder of the state of press freedom in Russia and the lengths to which the government will go to silence its critics.