Court upholds 5.5-year sentences for journalists in FBK case
Journalists involved in the FBK case were given a deadline for appeal in closed session; the Second General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal upheld the verdict against journalists Antonina Favor, Artem Kriger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov, our correspondent reports from the court.
Consensus
- The Second Cassation Court upheld the sentences of five and a half years in prison for journalists Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Кrieger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantин Gabov.
- The journalists were convicted for participation in an 'extremist community' designated by Russian authorities, which includes the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), Alexei Navalny's headquarters, and other projects.
- The trial and appeal proceedings were held in a closed session.
- Journalists were not allowed to film or record the proceedings, and press and audience access was restricted to only the announcement of the verdict.
- All four journalists denied guilt.
- The initial verdict was issued by the Nagatinsky District Court of Moscow in April 2025.
- The Moscow City Court previously rejected the appeal in December 2024 in a closed session.
- The journalists are associated with SOTAvision, Associated Press, and Reuters.
Points of divergence
- Favorskaya has been repeatedly sent to disciplinary isolation in IK-3 Kostroma Region since June for refusing to work as a seamstress. — tg_astrapress
- Gabov is currently held in SHIZO, but the reason for his placement is unknown. — tg_astrapress
- Favorskaya was effectively persecuted for helping organize Alexei Navalny's funeral. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Krieger believes he was targeted due to filming street interviews. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Four witnesses appeared at the hearing, one of whom previously appeared in a street interview on the 'Navalny LIVE' channel. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Two bailiffs blocked lawyers from entering the courtroom before and during the session, and four others monitored attendees in the corridor. — tg_sotavisionmedia
Coverage (4 sources)
- Cassation court upheld sentences for journalists Favoretskaya, Kriger, Gabov and Karelin in case of cooperation with F... — Радио Свобода
- Cassation court upheld sentences for journalists Favoretskaya, Kriger, Gabov and Karelin in case of cooperation with F... — Настоящее Время
- Journalists Antonina Favor, Artem Kryger, Sergey Karelin and Konstantin Gabov given deadlines in cassation for 'case...', — ASTRA
- Journalists in the 'FBK case' given deadlines for appeal in closed session — SOTAvision
Key entities
- Sergey Karelin
- Artem Kriger
- FBK
- Favorsky
- Gabovu
- Sotavision
- Associated Press
- Reuters
- Mediasphere
- Second Court of Appeals
- Court of Cassation