On 6 August 2024 russian authorities continue their crackdown on independent journalism with the recent sentencing of exiled journalist Dmitry Kolezev (Дмитрий Колезев), born 1984, to seven and a half years in prison in absentia. Kolezev, the former editor-in-chief of the independent media outlet Republic (https://republic.ru/) and founder of the Yekaterinburg-based (Екатеринбург), Russia, news site It’s My City (https://itsmycity.ru/), was convicted on charges of spreading so-called “fake news” about the Russian military. He previously worked as journalist and co-founder at Znak.com from Yekaterinburg (founded 2012), as also journalist in Uralpolit.ru(УралПолит.Ru) from Yekaterinburg and columnist in Ura.ru from Yekaterinburg. His personal website is: https://kolezev.ru/.
The case against Kolezev stems from his 2022 Instagram posts detailing the atrocities committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha (Буча), Ukraine. Russian prosecutors claimed that his reports threatened to create a “false perception” of the objectives of the “special military operation” (специальная военная операция – CBO – SVO) both domestically and internationally, which they argued could lead to unnecessary social tension.
Kolezev, who fled Russia in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, was designated a “foreign agent” later that year. This designation placed him under strict reporting obligations to the authorities and required him to label his publications accordingly. He was also added to a federal list of individuals wanted on criminal charges. In June 2023, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow (Москва), Russia, issued an order for his arrest in absentia.
The sentencing, which took place after a brief two-hour trial, also includes a three-year ban on Kolezev engaging in any professional activities related to his work as a journalist. This follows the pattern of repression against Russian journalists who report critically on the war in Ukraine, a campaign that has forced many into exile.
The Russian government has escalated its efforts to silence dissent since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, effectively clamping down on independent journalism within the country. The Kremlin’s suppression of free speech now extends beyond its borders, as exiled journalists continue to face severe penalties for their reporting.
Kolezev’s conviction highlights the ongoing dangers for Russian journalists, both inside the country and abroad, as they strive to bring the truth to light in an increasingly hostile environment.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of journalist Dmitry Kolezev in absentia to seven and a half years in prison on baseless charges of spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. This verdict represents a blatant attack on press freedom and the ongoing persecution of journalists who dare to speak the truth. SEEMO urges Russian authorities to cease their relentless crackdown on independent journalism, both within and outside their borders, and to respect the fundamental rights of journalists to report freely without fear of retribution. SEEMO will continue to closely monitor this case and advocate for the protection of press freedom across the region.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.
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