European Federation of Journalists

European Federation of Journalists

Russia: Forbes journalist Sergei Mingazov under house arrest and banned from using Internet for spreading “false” information about Bucha

This photograph shows flowers being laid at a recently inaugurated memorial including 501 plates bearing the names of identified local civilians killed by Russian troops during their occupation of Bucha, north of Kyiv, on July 3, 2023. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)
  •    News
  •   27-04-2024

Journalist Sergei Mingazov from the Russian edition of Forbes magazine was charged with spreading “false” information about Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine, on 26 April 2024. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) denounces the accusations against Mingazov, a member of the Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union (JMWU), an EFJ affiliate, and once again condemns the continued crackdown on independent journalists by the Russian authorities.

A court in Khabarovsk today placed Mingazov under house arrest for two months for “reposting about the events in Bucha” on the Telegram channel Khabarovsk Mingazeta. Bucha is the Kyiv suburb where Russian troops have been accused of massacring civilians in 2022.

According to Forbes Russia, the court also imposed restrictions on Mingazov’s communication with people other than relatives, investigators, lawyers and doctors, as well as on the use of communication means, including a complete ban on the use of the Internet. His lawyer said he will most likely file a complaint specifically about restrictions on Internet use.

Sergei Mingazov was arrested yesterday in the Far Eastern Khabarovsk region after searches were carried out at the journalist’s home. The journalist’s computer and phone, as well as the equipment of his wife and children, were confiscated. He was later placed in a temporary detention centre in Khabarovsk.

The dissemination of “fakes” about the Russian army provides for a fine of 3 million to 5 million rubles, forced labour for up to five years, or imprisonment for a term of five to 10 years.

“The Kremlin’s strategy of denying and labelling as ‘fake news’ everything that accuses Russia is aimed at stifling all journalists still in Russia who would dare to contradict the official propaganda. We reinforce our solidarity with Sergei Mingazov and all journalists who report the truth about Russia’s war and its cost to the Ukrainian people”, said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez.