Ex-editor-in-chief faces trial over Mariupol war content

In Kaliningrad, a former editor-in-chief of the newspaper

Consensus

Igor Rudnikov is being tried in absentia in the Leningrad District Court of Kaliningrad.
The case is based on a publication from May 2022 about destruction and civilian casualties in Mariupol.
The publication included a video filmed from a car driving through destroyed Mariupol and a text describing Russian military actions.
Rudnikov received a summons in July, which he shared on Instagram.
Rudnikov is currently outside Russia.
The Leningrad District Court has previously issued administrative fines against Rudnikov for violating 'foreign agent' and 'undesirable organization' regulations.
Rudnikov was previously arrested in 2017–2019 on charges of extortion related to the head of the regional Investigative Committee, Viktor Ledenyev.
The court in St. Petersburg reduced the charge and sentenced Rudnikov to compulsory work, releasing him after accounting for time served in pre-trial detention.
Rudnikov lost his deputy mandate due to a green card issue.
The newspaper 'Novye Kolesa' was shut down by Roskomnadzor after Rudnikov's release.

The case is based on Article about 'fake news' about the army. — tg_severrealii
The case is based on Article about spreading 'fake news' about war motivated by hatred. — mediazona
Rudnikov was the head of 'Novye Kolesa' until its closure by Roskomnadzor. — tg_severrealii
Rudnikov was released after serving 1.5 years in pre-trial detention, and the newspaper was closed after his release. — mediazona
Rudnikov claimed that Viktor Ledenyev provoked the case and promised to hand over evidence of an assassination attempt. — mediazona
Rudnikov was accused of extortion involving 50,000 dollars. — tg_severrealii
The extortion case involved threats to publish damaging information about Ledenyev. — mediazona