Russian journalists detained 'extremism' charges linked Navalny group

Russian journalists detained on extremism charges for alleged ties to Navalny's group. Crackdown on dissent intensifies in Putin's Russia.

Two Russian journalists, Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin, have been detained on charges of "extremism" in Moscow, Russia. The authorities have accused them of having connections to a group associated with the late Russian opposition figure, Alexey Navalny. Gabov and Karelin are said to have contributed to Navalny's popular YouTube channel, "NavalnyLIVE," which is known for its investigations into Kremlin corruption and has a large following.

The Russian government has labeled Navalny and his organizations as "extremist," leading to the arrest of his colleagues and the forced exile of many others. The Basmanny District Court in Moscow has stated that Gabov was involved in creating visual content for the YouTube channel and, as a producer for Reuters news agency, he is facing detention until June 27.

Karelin, who was detained in the Murmansk region, is accused of participating in an extremist organization. He has a background in journalism, having previously worked for outlets such as the Associated Press (AP) and Deutsche Welle (DW) before DW was banned in Russia in 2022. Photos from a court in Murmansk show Karelin, who holds dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, sitting in a glass enclosure during his hearing.

The detention of Gabov and Karelin is part of a wider crackdown on journalists and critics of the Kremlin in Russia. President Vladimir Putin's government has been increasing efforts to silence dissent, especially after the invasion of Ukraine. Sergey Mingazov, a journalist for Forbes, was recently put under house arrest for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military.

Navalny, who was once Putin's main political opponent, died in custody while serving a long sentence on extremism charges. His family and supporters have accused the Kremlin of being complicit in his death, a claim that Russian authorities vehemently deny. This situation highlights the challenges faced by journalists and critics in Russia who are trying to speak out against the government's actions.

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