Belarusian journalist Konstantin Gabov has been detained over “extremism,” according to the media support for Moscow authorities on Saturday.
The allegations relate to YouTube video that were once produced by the later opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Although Navalny passed away in a penal colony in the Arctic in February, his supporters and associates also run his YouTube network. Navalny’s activity is designated by Russian regulators as an “extremist” team, meaning his team and followers can face trial.
What do we hear about the allegations brought against Gabov?
According to press studies, Gabov worked for Moskva 24 and MIR in Russia. Moreover, he had worked with the Belarusian media company Belsat and for Reuters. In 2019 and 2020, Gabov even worked as DW’s journalist in Moscow.
On Saturday, according to court documents, Gabov was accused of “in preparing photo and video stuff” for the” Navalny LIVE” YouTube channel.
According to officials, Alexei Navalny’s associates and members of the Anti-Corruption Foundation ( FBK) NGO, which was established by the late opposition figure and is regarded as an extremist group in Russia, founded the channel.
Gabov will remain in pre-trial confinement until June 27. If convicted, he may experience two to six years in prison.
Russia’s assault on reporters
Gabov’s imprisonment is only the latest in Russia’s clampdown on important investigators, which has escalated since the start of Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine.
In March, artist Antonina Favorskaya was arrested after even being accused of “extremism” for covering Navalny’s tests for independent Russian media outlet SOTAvision. The firm is classified as a “foreign broker” by Soviet authorities.
Belarusian- American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who works for the Tatar company of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been in jail since October for no registering as a “foreign broker”.
Additionally, Russian authorities are detaining Wall Street Journal columnist Evan Gershkovich on spy costs. Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal and the US state have all denied the states.
