Russia Charges Journalist Kotrikadze Over Foreign Agent Duties
The journalist of 'Dozhd' Ekaterina Kotrikadze had a criminal case filed against her for failure to fulfill the obligations of a 'foreign agent.' On February 16, the Skolkovo Court of Moscow sentenced Ekaterina Kotrikadze to 8 years in a colony in absentia on the case of 'military fake news.'
Consensus
- A criminal case has been opened against journalist Ekaterina Kotrikadze by the Investigative Committee of Russia.
- The case is based on Article 330.1, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code, concerning evasion of duties as a foreign agent.
- Kotrikadze is accused of repeatedly failing to fulfill obligations under Russian foreign agent legislation.
- She has already been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian armed forces.
- The previous conviction was linked to posts about civilian casualties in Bucha and Odesa.
- Kotrikadze was previously declared a foreign agent by the Ministry of Justice in October 2022.
- She has been banned from managing websites for four years.
- An indictment is expected to be formally presented to her in absentia in the near future.
Points of divergence
- The Investigative Committee previously announced a criminal case in 2025 against Kotrikadze and other 'Dozhd' staff for military 'fake news', mentioning the foreign agent article but not clearly assigning it to her. — mediazona
- Kotrikadze herself commented that the Investigative Committee confused her status and mistakenly referred to a criminal case on foreign agent duties, claiming only 'fake news' charges were valid. — mediazona
- The Investigative Committee's press release in 2025 mentioned the foreign agent article only in relation to Tikhon Dzyadko, not clearly linking it to Kotrikadze. — mediazona
Coverage (5 sources)
- Criminal case filed against journalist Kotrikadze*: what they suspect — Вечерняя Москва
- Against leading 'Dozhd' Ekaterina Kotrikadze a criminal case on failure to perform duties of a 'foreign agent' has been initiated — Медиазона
- Criminal case filed against foreign agent Ekaterina Kotrikadze — Вести
- Prosecutor's Office has filed criminal charges against Rain journalist Ekaterina Kotrikadze for failure to fulfill obligations as a 'foreign agent' — ASTRA
- Case opened against leading — Настоящее Время
Key entities
- Ekaterina Kotrikadze
- Rain
- Moscow
- SK
- Investigative Committee
- Russia
- SU
- Ministry of Justice
- GSU
- Golovin Court
- SAO